The principal parts of a George III gilt-bronze mounted white marble chimneypiece in the French neo-classical style circa 1780, the design attributed to Guillaume Gaubert

comprising a mantelpiece, a frieze with applied central mask between classical reclining nude figures, one on a hippocamp, the other on a panther, the single scrolled foliate mounts, a pair of lower blocks each with rosette mounts and four other pieces of associated white marble together with a group of Victorian white marble fragments including two spandrel components, possibly from a chimneypiece both with scrolled gilt-bronze mounts (qty)

Distressed condition, The marble is stained and the gilt bronze is tarnished. There is a great deal of chipping throughout. One of the lower blocks of the George III chimneypiece consists only of the main panel. Three of the other pieces of marble are broken fragments from the same chimneypiece. The Victorian fragments have surface dirt and wear including chipping and fragmentation, especially around the broken sections.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The mounts on these marble components can be compared to those on a chimneypiece in the Duchess's Sitting Room, Chatsworth (see The Duchess of Devonshire, The House: A Portrait of Chatsworth, 1982, p. 159).

There is the transcript of a bill dated 27th July 1783 from a Mr Bickley entitled 'Work done for His Grace the Duke of Devonshire By Order of M^r. Bickely after M^r. Gaubert's Design'. It records 'To the Ornaments of a Chimney Piece, gilt-in Water Gold for the Drawing Room £57. 10'. The high quality of these neo-classical French style mounts would support Gaubert as a likely author of their design and those still in situ mounted on the chimneypiece in the Duchess's Sitting Room at Chatsworth.

A similarly conceived and proportioned chimneypiece circa 1807 by B. and B.L. Vulliamy is Her Majesty's Writing Room at Windsor Castle and displays the striking use of gilded mounts against a clean white marble backing, see Hugh Roberts, For the King's Pleasure: The Furnishing and Decoration of George IV's Apartments at Windsor Castle, London, 2001, p.175, fig. 194.