The moulded red-mottled marble cornice with four double gourd urn finials, centred on a volute-flanked shell, above a paterae-inlaid frieze with four twist-turned breche d’Alep columns with Corinthian capitals.
These are centred on a blind fluted arch in a panelled reserve; the mottled red marble mantel above a foliate inlaid surround flanked by paterae-inlaid jambs, 380cm by 320cm.
Purchased in June 1839 by Brownlow, 2nd Marquess of Exeter (1795-1867) from Lord Howard de Walden, who obtained it from the Convent pres de Passo de Arcos, near Lisbon.
It cost £27-4-10 and the cost of transportation was £26-14-6!
