An exceptional antique glazed blue and white pottery fireplace by Ulisse Cantagalli, Italian designer of lustre ware and pottery

The jambs with female caryatids supporting the break-fronted frieze. The frieze decorated with laurel arabesques and two griffins flanking a centre cartouche.

An identical fireplace is installed at Cantagalli’s cousin’s villa in Italy, and another one in Villier Hall, a large English country house decorated in Italian style.

This wonderful mantlepiece was exhibited at the world exhibition of 1885 in Antwerp Belgium, it was on display at the Cantagalli company stand. 

Circa 1885