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Design for a chimney-piece, 9 July 1790
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Reference number
SM (7) 81/2/37
Purpose
Design for a chimney-piece, 9 July 1790
Aspect
7 Elevation of Chimney Piece; (verso) detail of the jamb and lining
Scale
bar scale of 1/7 inch to 1 foot, approximately, and full size
Inscribed
as above, John Patteson Esqre, The whole to be executed / in Veined Marble, slab, slip, slip, dimensions given, (pencil) 2'2; (verso) line of finish'd wall, depth, of, flutes
Signed and dated
- Albion Place July 9th 1790
Medium and dimensions
Pencil, pen and grey and pink washes on laid paper with four fold marks (402 x 237)
Hand
attributed to John McDonnell (pupil 1786-91)
Notes
On 10 July 1790, Soane sent by post a chimney-piece design. This drawing was probably the same sheet sent to the workmen.
The chimney-piece is made of veined marble. It has a Vitruvian scroll motif on the frieze, with each scroll surrounding a rosette. The jambs have fluting between bead mouldings. The verso of the drawing shows the depth of the fluting, the bead mouldings, and lining.
The chimney-piece is the same design as a chimney-piece for the drawing room at Bentley Priory (see drawing 107, SM 81/1/16). The design drawing for the Bentley Priory chimney-piece has the date June 28 1790 cancelled, with April 13 1791 written beneath it. This is an indication that the drawing was re-used for Bentley Priory and it was originally made for Surrey Street.
Much of Soane's work at Surrey Street is altered but this chimney-piece and another are still extant (D. Stroud, p. 146).
Inscriptions on other chimney-piece designs indicate that they were considered for Mr Patteson's house: drawing 46 in Letton Hall scheme, SM 81/1/38; and drawing 10 in Cricket Lodge scheme, SM volume 43/3.
The chimney-piece is made of veined marble. It has a Vitruvian scroll motif on the frieze, with each scroll surrounding a rosette. The jambs have fluting between bead mouldings. The verso of the drawing shows the depth of the fluting, the bead mouldings, and lining.
The chimney-piece is the same design as a chimney-piece for the drawing room at Bentley Priory (see drawing 107, SM 81/1/16). The design drawing for the Bentley Priory chimney-piece has the date June 28 1790 cancelled, with April 13 1791 written beneath it. This is an indication that the drawing was re-used for Bentley Priory and it was originally made for Surrey Street.
Much of Soane's work at Surrey Street is altered but this chimney-piece and another are still extant (D. Stroud, p. 146).
Inscriptions on other chimney-piece designs indicate that they were considered for Mr Patteson's house: drawing 46 in Letton Hall scheme, SM 81/1/38; and drawing 10 in Cricket Lodge scheme, SM volume 43/3.
Literature
D. Stroud, Sir John Soane, architect, 1984, p. 146.
Level
Drawing
Digitisation of the Drawings Collection has been made possible through the generosity of the Leon Levy Foundation
If you have any further information about this object, please contact us: drawings@soane.org.uk