A rare Renaissance period carved marble fireplace surround attributed to the workshop of Mathieu Jacquet sold for a premium price at Carlsen Gallery on January 18.

The French surround, circa 1580, had presumably been moved from a French chateau and installed in a residence in the United States, from where it had been removed and put in storage during the first quarter of the Twentieth Century.

The piece, which had been consigned from the estate of Albany area collector Carolyn Gill, is a “virtual twin to the famous Villeroy Chateau fire surround in the Louvre, Paris,” stated auctioneer Russ Carlsen.

The surround was actively bid from the gallery, yet ultimately sold to a London dealer bidding by telephone for $247,500.

A complete review will appear in a future issue.