January, 1921 
25 
FIREPLACES FROM 
ITALIAN VILLAS 
A design, unusual and vigorous in 
its ensemble and also in the simpler 
and bolder details of decoration, is 
found in the 17th Century Baroque 
fireplace in the Villa Sassetti at 
Florence. It is of gray sandstone 
modeled in noble proportions and 
with a heavy stone hearth 
This 15 th Century fireplace in the 
Villa Colletla at Florence is re¬ 
markable for the spirited design of 
flying cherubs, for the graceful and 
crisply carved arabesques and for 
the carved firedogs. The grayish- 
brown pietra serena is patined by 
centuries of smoke and rubbing 
In the Villa Bombicci near Flor¬ 
ence, said to have been designed by 
Michael Angelo, is a remarkable 
Baroque 17 th Century fireplace. It 
consists of vari-colored marbles. 
Instead of a mantel, the space con¬ 
tains a mirror panel. Painted doors 
close the fireplace in summer 
The smooth-grained gray and brownish sand¬ 
stone quarried at Fiesole is known as pietra 
serena. It is used here for the fireplace in the 
salon of the Villa Sassetti, dating from the early 
16 th Century. Apart from its pleasing design, 
the fireplace is interesting because of the old 
red velvet used for smoke valance 
This massive fireplace, in 
the great hall of the Villa 
Bombicci, is wrought in 
pietra serena. The bold¬ 
ly conceived flanking 
scrolls springing from 
griffin feet are noteworthy 
