Horizontal rectangle, design elevation for a mantelpiece. The pilaster stripes and the frieze show oblong panels with concave short sides. They are filled with reddish marble. In the center of the frieze is an ovoid and two parts of such, formed by the slopes of a garland. In the ovoid is the representation of a bird flying to the nest with young birds, menaced and chased by a cat. Butterflies are in the lateral slopes. In the upper corners are beast forms, formed in a similar way as the central motif. They contain circular medallions with birds and butterflies in the smaller slopes. Segments of garlands with butterflies are below at the pilasters. An entablature forms the shelf. Parts of the adjoining wall panel are shown. A ruined stone block lies in the interior of the mantel, showing the musical scale "Palmi due Romani." Two framing border lines.
Credit Line:
Museum purchase through gift of various donors and from Eleanor G. Hewitt Fund
