A George III Marble Fireplace Surround

Restored condition with traces of plaster at construction lines; repaired break to cross-piece supporting central tablet, the carving to the central panel possibly showing lines of construction beneath Hercules' proper right knee; the horizontal panel beneath the frieze restored and possibly later; restored breaks to horizontal panels of frieze flanking the central tablet; the left side vertical panel broken but with pieces present; each column cut into two pieces; front left base of column with black marker inscription, overall with minor chips and wear to the extremities. The fireplace surround would benefit from further restoration and professional installation.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The present lot was removed from Miraflores, a country house in Claymont, Delaware built in 1890 by the millionaire gas tycoon J. Edward O'Sullivan Addicks.  Supposedly Addicks bought the fireplace surround from Glamis Castle, in Angus, Scotland, the family seat of HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, although this has never been verified.  The fireplace surround was salvaged from the large Tudor style house before it was torn down in 1967 to make way for a highway.

The offered lot contains elements found in several designs from Abraham Swan's Upwards of One Hundred and Fifty New Designs, For CHIMNEY PIECES; From the Plain and Simple, to the most Superb and Magnificent, Properly adapted to ROOMS, HALL, SALOONS, LOBBIES, &C. of every Dimension;..., London, 1758.

Hercules is depicted with the Erythmathian boar, a scene from one of the Twelve Labors of Hercules.  The labors were given to him by the gods for having killed his children.  A boar was devastating the area below Mt. Erythmanthus and Hercules was instructed to capture the boar alive, which he did by driving it into a snow bank and trapping it in a net.  Hercules is shown here throwing a net over the beast.