This elaborate white marble fireplace mantle is the centerpiece for Raymond Greenwell’s home library inside his Second Empire Victorian mansion, built in 1868.

It’s made of fine Italian white carved marble and functions as a wood burning fireplace. It’s backing is locally produced red brick and has a Rumford design, made for efficient smoke flow. A heavy iron fireback sits against the red brick, both absorbing and radiating heat throughout the room. Brass andirons hold up the logs as they burn and are accompanied by a brass shield, tools, and copper and brass decorative log bucket.

Above the mantle is an ornate vertical gold framed mirror surrounded by carved black walnut trim. This design dates back to the 1870s in America.