Gedecoreerde schoorsteenmantel afkomstig uit het Markiezenhof, tegenwoordig in het stadhuis van Bergen-op-Zoom before 1880

This decorated mantelpiece, now in the Stadhuis of Bergen-op-Zoom, was originally located in the Markiezenhof. It's crafted entirely from stone, a material choice that speaks volumes about its original context. Think about the labor involved: quarrying the stone, transporting it, and then the painstaking carving of these intricate details. Notice the figures and foliage, all rendered with incredible precision. Stone carving is a slow, subtractive process. The artist would have used chisels, gouges, and rasps to gradually reveal the design hidden within the block. This required not only technical skill but also a deep understanding of the material itself, its grain, and its potential for both strength and fragility. The choice of stone is significant too. It's a material associated with permanence, grandeur, and wealth. This mantelpiece wasn't just a functional object; it was a statement of power and status, a testament to the patron's ability to command resources and talent. It reminds us that even seemingly "decorative" arts are deeply intertwined with social and economic realities.