An antique Statuary Carrara marble mantelpiece in the Venetian Renaissance style

The deep shelf with a layer of dental and egg and dart mouldings rests on a very fine frieze with side returns. The frieze is carved in high relief with arabesques of laurels, flowers and foliage. In the centre of the frieze is ‘The Lion of Saint Mark’, depicted in the form of a winged lion holding a book and sword, it is the symbol of the city of Venice and formerly of the Venetian Republic. Supporting the frieze are large acanthus bracket corbels on Corinthian capped columns with balusters shaped pedestals, intricately carved with various ornate Renaissance decoration.

Italian, Circa 1860