English Rococo fire surround and overmantle

Rococo Fire Surround & Overmantle

Project Name

Getty - Residential San Francisco

Location

San Francisco, California, USA

“Agrell Architectural Carving has created a woodcarving workshop of international stature here in the United States, and work like this is a true testimony to their craftsmanship.”

— Stephen Weaver, Interior Designer

Client | Partners | Companies

Details – specialties, skills etc.

In 1994 we were awarded an extraordinary commission: to design and carve a highly elaborate 12-foot-high 18th century English Rococo chimney piece and overmantle for Gordon and Ann Getty in San Francisco.

The design was originally researched by Ann Getty from her historical book collection. Then exceptionally talented draftsman and British Master Carver Adam Thorpe did his own research by visiting London’s famous Victoria and Albert Museum, where he drew and took notes from relevant elements found in the museum’s collections.

After producing full-sized drawings Adam created a clay maquette to better help him accurately depict the complex movement and detail of the English Rococo style of that period. Then the real piece was intricately hand carved in pine, gessoed and carved again for water gilding which was done by others. The result was a masterpiece of stunning beauty.

On October 2022, the Rococo chimney piece and overmantel raised $352,800 as part of the Christies Ann and Gordon Getty Collection Series which totalled $200 million for charity.

King George Music Room

Agrell also adapted the King George pine woodwork adding to the original 1760 carved elements Gordon and Ann Getty had obtained in England.

Ann Getty House Collection

The company produced hand carved furniture for the collection including the famous Badminton Chair and the Anglo-Dutch Queen Anne side chair.

Hours | volume, Delivery

The Rococo chimney piece and overmantle took approximately 3,600 hours of carving and extensive water gilding.

Further information 

Christies: Ann and Gordon Getty Collection Series

Ann Getty House Collection: Badminton Chair

Ann Getty House Collection: Queen Anne Side Chair

SKETCH STUDY OF A ROCOCO FIRE SURROUND A draftsman and classical woodcarver of exceptional talent, Adam started his research by visiting London's famous Victoria and Albert Museum, where he drew and took notes from relevant elements found in the muse
DETAILED SKETCH OF ROCOCO FIRE SURROUND AND OVERMANTLE After producing full-sized drawings for the client and the designers to review, he researched how these chimney pieces were constructed and how the different parts of the mirror would be attached
SKETCH FOR ROCOCO FIRE SURROUND AND OVERMANTLE The piece began life as several distorted photocopies that had been enlarged from a tiny image pulled from a magazine.
WOODCARVER SKETCHING OUT DETAILS OF ROCOCO FIRE SURROUND Adam Thorpe, who at the time was the youngest elected British Master Carver and our chief woodcarver, took on the challenge of turning this multifarious vision into reality.
WOODCARVER CARVING DETAILS TO A ROCOCO FIRE SURROUND Our pieces are designed to complement the existing decor, though they often become the focal point of the room.
ROUGHED OUT ROCOCO FIRE SURROUND Working on private residences, where our carving expertise can turn a space into something exceptional, is always a pleasure. Our projects range from elaborate fire surrounds like this to delicate frames to historical
CLAY MODEL OF ROCOCO FIRE SURROUND He also created a scale model out of clay to help him better understand the complex and unusual shapes.
ROCOCO OVERMANTLE READY FOR GILDING We work closely with the architect, decorator, or client on design and execution. Depending on costs and logistics, we will partner with the existing mill shop on site, supplying just the carved ornamentation, or u
DETAIL OF A GILDED ROCOCO FIRE SURROUND It took approximately 3,600 hours of carving and extensive water gilding to finish this project, but the result was a masterpiece of stunning beauty.
DETAIL OF A GILDED ROCOCO OVERMANTLE We believe it is one of the most astonishing pieces of English Rococo ever created.
DETAIL OF A GILDED ROCOCO OVERMANTLE "Agrell Architectural Carving has created a woodcarving workshop of international stature here in the United States, and work like this is a true testimony to their craftsmanship." — Stephen Weaver, Interior Desig
ENGLISH ROCOCO FIRE SURROUND AND OVERMANTLE In 1994 we were awarded an extraordinary commission: to design and carve a highly elaborate 18-foot-tall English Rococo fire surround and overmantle. Projects like this were rare in the 18th century. They'r
Previous

Hermitage Museum
Next

Fulham Palace, London