… general information:

IN THE MIDDLE AGES… A SIMPLE SHAPE OF THE JAMBS

In the photo: the model echoing the 16th century Gothic fireplace in the castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork

Since the 12th century, in the walls of knight chambers, there were present the masonry jambs of the fireplaces. Though, these Gothic hearths with their simple, unornamented surround differed from those which appeared at the end of the 15th century – richly decorated, palace fireplaces.

IN THE RENAISSANCE… DECORATIVE DESIGN OF A PALACE FIREPLACE

In the photo: catalog number 31 echoing the 16th century’s, Renaissance design of an English chimneypiece

Basing on the antique orders, i.e. the classical style, the Renaissance artists introduced a new detail in the architecture: a chimneypiece / also called a mantelpiece / .

*) the Classical orders:
Greek: a) Doric, b) Ionic, c) Corinthian
Roman: a) Tuscan, b) Composite (mixed order)

The reviving antique art enriched the hearths with elaborate decoration to adorn castles’ interiors and royal residences.

… what is a chimneypiece? / Chimneypiece Portal? :

Since the end of the 15th century, the hearths of the palace fireplaces have got the jambs in the form of a stylized representation of door or window surrounds, i.e. statuary portals.

*) portal – an elaborately ornamented opening in the walls of a building ( window, door, gate ), made to enhance the grandeur and importance of the place.

Carved in exotic kinds of wood and topped with a high mantel , the Renaissance chimneypieces evolved into more practical, marble ones, topped with a cornice.
The cornice made a perfect mantel to site a clock, a candlestick or other decoration.
It is what differentiated a chimneypiece “portal” and a door portal. The last one was topped with an arch.

A FLAT CROWNING OF A CLASSICAL CHIMNEYPIECE

In the photo: a fragment of the catalog model no. 22 with the marked elements of the chimneypiece / portal /

… Examples of chimneypiece styles:

With the passing time and changing trends in the architecture, a wide range of chimneypiece styles have been applied in various European cultures. Among them the most recognized ones are: the English style with its rectangular features and the French style employing undulated lines and curves.

THE ENGLISH STYLE

THE MODEL DERIVES FROM THE 17TH CENTURY CHIMNEYPIECE IN THE NEOCLASSICAL STYLE OF GEORGE III PERIOD

In the photo: a catalog model no. 21

THE FRENCH STYLE

THE MODEL DERIVES FROM THE XVIII TH CENTURY CHIMNEYPIECE IN THE ROCOCO MANNER - LOUIS XV PERIOD

In the photo: a catalog model no. 13

…the history of architecture distinguishes the following styles: *)

THE RENAISSANCE STYLE 1450-1600 / ELIZABETHAN STYLE /

Model no. 31

THE BAROQUE STYLE 1550-1750 / LOUIS XIV, MANNERISM /

Model no. 34

THE ROCOCO STYLE 1740-1780 / LOUIS XV STYLE /

Model no. 33

THE NEOCLASSICAL STYLE 1700-1820 / GEORGE III STYLE, ADAM STYLE /

model nr 30

THE REGENCE 1790-1820 / IN ENGLAND – GEORGE IV PERIOD; IN FRANCE – WHEN THE LAND WAS GOVERNED BY A REGENT PHILIPPE D’ORLEAN/ /

Model no. 15

THE EMPIRE STYLE 1800-1815 / NAPOLEON OR EMPIRE STYLE /

Model no. 12

ECLECTICISM 1830-1900 / VICTORIAN FASHION /

Model no. 16

THE MARKED CHIMNEYPIECE WITH ITS CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES

In the photo: catalog model no. 20

… What parts does a Classical chimneypiece consist of?

In a typical antique chimneypiece there has been a tendency to follow the classical order with the three basic parts:

1 – horizontal, a low base, i.e. a plinth sited on a foundation – a platform;

2 – vertical brackets / in the form of columns, pilasters*), herms*) or statues – (Caryatides, atlases also known as atlants) embedded in the risalits*)

*) A pilaster - a flattened or rectangular column built into or applied to the face of the wall with the base, shaft and the capital;

*) A herm – a quadrangle pillar built into the face of the wall, crowned with a head or a bust;

*) A risalit – a projecting part of the wall being a back support without a base and a capital

3 – a vertical crowning / lintel, in the form of an entablature

- from the bottom: an architrave*), a frieze *) and a cornice*)

*) An architrave – called also an epistyle - the lowest moulded stepped back band, holding the rest of the lintel;

*) A frieze – the wide central part of an entablature often decorated with an ornament or a bas-relief;

*) A cornice – the upper slanting part of the entablature, a moulded projection which serves as a mantel shelf to site fireplace decorations.

3 – cont. – In some models extending the columns are projecting square tablets of the plinths and at the level of the frieze, there are cubical panels of the imposts.

In order to economize on the cost of heating, nowadays, / high heating effectiveness/ the former palace open fireplaces are being replaced by those with fireplace inserts with the ceramic glass window in the door and the cast-iron or steel-chamotte firebox. In that case the chimneypiece also has:

4 – the framing of the insert door i.e. the masking part that includes;

- a doorstep / stylobate/ in front of the hearth;

- three movable masking panels, size-fitted to the fireplace insert door;