A fine quality late 18th-century steel register grate, in the manner of Robert Adam, richly engraved with archetypal neo-classical ornament including foliate swags, Grecian urns, drops, and ribbon motifs. The pierced ash fret is of geometric and foliate pattern, surmounted by bowed front bars and urn finials, reinforcing the restrained classical character of the piece. The engraving throughout is lightly but confidently cut, typical of a high-quality workshop rather than mass production. The surround is centred with a raised rectangular panel, flanked by plain round paterae to the upper corners, and is finely detailed with a beaded moulding running to both the outer and inner edges, creating a crisp architectural frame.
The grate retains good, honest surface wear consistent with age, with the engraving still clearly legible. Sympathetically restored to preserve its untouched patina, with no obvious later alterations (except side strips explained below). English, circa 1770 1790. Provenance: Ashe Park, Hampshire.
NB. At some point additional side strips have been added which can be removed. The sizes shown are not including these, but photo 6 shows them added. This increases the width to 1400mm.
| Width At Front: | 1320 mm | | 52" |
| Width At Back: | 960 mm | | 37 ¾" |
| Height: | 1066 mm | | 42" |
| Depth: | 295 mm | | 11 ⅝" |
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