An antique George III period Statuary and Sienna marble fireplace attributed to English architect John Yenn (1750–1821).

This restrained architectural Statuary marble chimneypiece, features a subtly coloured Sienna marble frieze and pilasters. 

The pilaster capitals are carved with leaf-work, the centre tablet carved with flute and dart motif.

A break-fronted cornice shelf rests on top. 

Circa 1770

Comparable chimneypiece designs in pen and ink watercolours by John Yenn are held at the The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

John Yenn was a pupil of Chambers from 1764 and five years later was one of the first students to be admitted to the Royal Academy Schools, where he was awarded a gold medal in 1771. Drawings such as this well demonstrate his skill as a draughtsman, working with the techniques learnt in Chambers’ studio to produce drawings of great beauty and clarity. Yenn became one of the architect’s chief assistants. In 1774 Chambers described him as ‘an ingenious faithful intelligent servant’ who ‘for two or three years past has managed a great part of my extensive business very much to my satisfaction’. After the start of work at Somerset House, Chambers depended on Yenn increasingly, both in London and in the different projects commissioned by the King elsewhere. In 1782 Yenn was appointed by the Office of Works to the position of Clerk of the Works at Buckingham House and Kensington Palace. He was elected Royal Academician in 1791 and on Chambers’s death in 1796 he became Treasurer to the Royal Academy, actively (occasionally acrimoniously) involving himself in the politics of that institution.