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Lot Essay
This chimneypiece is inlaid in the neo-classical manner with scagliola inlay of leaf garlands, flowerheads, urns and husks. Probably the best-known scagliola and marble inlayer is Pietro Bossi, the subject of an article published by Conor O'Neill in Irish Architectural and Decorative Studies ('In Search of Bossi', vol. I, 1998, pp. 146-175). Bossi placed an advertisement in Saunders Newsletter in 1786: 'Peter Bossi, Inlayer of Marble, lately removed to No. 38 Fleet Street, has now for sale an elegant pair of statuary marble tables, also chimneypieces, the whole inlaid scagliola, on an entire new design. He engages the above pieces to be as good workmanship as any done in London.'
Among the other famous 18th century scagliola inlayers is Domenico Bartoli, who worked with Richter from 1767-1777. The partners worked almost exclusively for Robert Adam and after the partnership dissolved each took on individual commissions, with Bartoli working for James Wyatt (see D. Cameron, 'Scagliola inlay work: the problems of attribution', Irish Architectural and Decorative Studies, vol. VII, 2004, pp. 140-155).
Among the other famous 18th century scagliola inlayers is Domenico Bartoli, who worked with Richter from 1767-1777. The partners worked almost exclusively for Robert Adam and after the partnership dissolved each took on individual commissions, with Bartoli working for James Wyatt (see D. Cameron, 'Scagliola inlay work: the problems of attribution', Irish Architectural and Decorative Studies, vol. VII, 2004, pp. 140-155).