The central tablet is inspired by the famous 'Marlborough gem', an antique saardonyx cameo, belonging to the 4th Duke of Marlborough, a motif of which Sir William Chambers used in a chimneypiece at Blenheim Palace, and which inspired Wedgwood's chimney piece tablets of about 1770.

This piece is designed in the 'antique' manner of the 1770's and reflects the 'French' fashion for coloured chimney pieces.