This chimney piece was formerly part of the furnishings of Arthur Heygate Mackmurdo’s bungalow at Wickham Bishops, Esse. It is one of number of designs made by Alfred Stevens for chimney and mantelpieces to be manufactured by the Coalbrookdale Iron Company, c.1856. The Chimney-piece is made of black-enamelled cast-iron, and decorated on upright supports and across the top with a continuous frieze in high relief in copper plate of swags of leaves with inter-twining ribbons and birds, a recumbent draped figure is to the right in the centre of the top frieze. The cornice above is decorated with moulding also in copper plate. The cornice was cast separately and bolted to the lower frieze and supports
