SOLD

A 17th Century Carved Oak Overmantle Initialled FW And Dated 1682.

Recently purchased from a Welsh collection .

Carved with five lozenge panels with rope borders the top rail carved with jewelled strapwork a design that is typical of the workshops of Exeter.

The central top panel carved with the initials F W with the W carved as the VV symbol which is a common ritual protection mark found in churches and houses and stands for the Virgin Mary so a good luck charm so to speak.

The reverse of the dated panel shows a mistake of the carver where he could not fit the date in to his original design and so had to re carve the side now showing ,also cut outs on the reverse of the top rail where a lockplate was going to be placed but never was,so again a reused piece of imber reversed and the good side used. .

A good colour and patina and certainly a statement piece for and chimney breast.

68" (173cm) Wide to cornice

61.5" (156cm) Wide

35.5" (90cm) High

The cornice and brackets are a later addition.