The Adam Collection
He is rightly credited with the
popularisation of the style that
is known as Neo-classical and
which defined the later Georgian
period. Returning to England
from Italy in 1758 he introduced
a style of architecture and
interior decoration based on
design ideas from ancient Greece
and Rome, interpreting and
applying this classicism in a light
and playful manner.
Sir John Soane, himself an
architectural visionary, described
Adam’s work as a “revolution in
art” and it unquestionably
influenced every aspect of interior
decoration during the late 18th
century. Adam devoted much
time to applying this new form
to the design of fireplaces,
recognising, like all great
architects, that a successfully
executed fireplace is the key to the
balance and symmetry of a room.
There were features of Adam’s
work that separated it from the
severe classicism of his
predecessors and which allowed
him to create a range of fireplace
designs that was quite unique.
Adam’s approach was to use
statuary marble not only as a
medium for fine carved detail
but also as a base for the inlay
of a variety of richly coloured
marbles.
Purists of the period were
ofended by this development
but it added a new dimension
to fireplace design with the rich
colour ofered by intricately
inlaid patterns of marble such
as convent siena, Sicilian jasper
and Spanish brocatelle
enhancing the visual impact
and presence of many fireplaces
of the period.
Portrait of Robert Adam
© National Portrait Gallery, London
Below Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire.
Hans A. Rosbach, creativecommons.org
The Adam Collection
A collection of exact replicas of designs for
chimneypieces from drawings from the ofce
of Robert and James Adam.
The Adam collection is made under exclusive
licence from Sir John Soane’s Museum,
which holds the largest collection of drawings
by the great 18th century architect.
The Adam collection comprises designs for six chimneypieces
selected from over 300 drawings for chimneypieces held at
the museum and chosen to represent the diversity and
originality of his work.
Online archive
The archive of Adam’s chimneypiece drawings numbers over 300 in total.
These can be viewed online at
www.chesneys.co.uk/products/fireplaces/adam-archive
Chesney’s is able to reproduce any design contained in this
archive to order.
Robert Adam
(1728-92) was the
most influential
and original
architect of his age
The Locke
Designed in 1775 for William Locke Esq., for
21 Portman Square, London, a property built
by the Adam brothers three years earlier. Locke
was an art connoisseur and patron who started
his collection following a Grand Tour in 1749.
Shown in statuary marble with the Croome brass
fire basket and black slate hearth and slips.
DETAILS
Opening 48”(1220)W x 401/2”(1030)H
Shelf 721/2”(1840)L x 9”(230)D
Overall size 633/8”(1608)W x 487/8”(1242)H
Depth of rebate 11/8”(30)
Depth of jamb 53/8”(135)
Height of footblock 6”(152)
Chesney’s fireplaces
DETAILS
Opening 421/4”(1074)W x 373/4”(958)H
Shelf 72”(1829)L x 113/8”(290)D
Overall size 633/4”(1620)W x 533/8”(1357)H
Depth of rebate 11/8”(30)
Depth of jamb 71/4”(186)
Height of footblock 5”(128)
The Knatchbull
Designed in 1763 for Sir Edward Knatchbull, 7th
Baronet, for the hall at Mersham-le-Hatch in Kent.
Construction of the house began in 1762 to designs
by Adam, was completed in 1772 and was Adam’s
first completely newly-built house.
The notoriously parsimonious Sir Edward
simplified the design of this chimneypiece to reduce
its cost and it survives in situ in the property.
DETAILS
Opening 461/8”(1172)W x 423/8”(1076)H
Shelf 76”(1930)L x 133/4”(350)D
Overall size 671/2”(1715)W x 601/8”(1526)H
Depth of rebate 11/8”(30)
Depth of jamb 101/8”(256)
Height of footblock 51/4”(132)
The Richmond
Designed in 1765 for the 3rd Duke of Richmond
for the drawing room at Goodwood, West Sussex.
The Duke was a politician, diplomat and army
ofcer who attained the rank of Field Marshall in
1795 and commissioned Adam to make designs for
a new house at his country estate of Goodwood.
DETAILS
Opening 451/8”(1148 )W x 421/2”(1080)H
Shelf 76”(1930)L x 10”(253)D
Overall size 663/4”(1696)W x 577/8”(1469)H
Depth of rebate 11/8”(30)
Depth of jamb 53/8”(136)
Height of footblock 53/4”(146)
The Stuart
Designed in 1766 for the Rt Hon. James Stuart
Mackenzie for the salon in an unknown castle.
Stuart Mackenzie had a prominent political and
diplomatic career and also served as Lord Privy
Seal of Scotland. Adam was also employed by
his brother, John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute.
DETAILS
Opening 417/8”(1063)W x 421/8”(1071)H
Shelf 72”(1829)L x 113/8”(290)D
Overall size 623/4”(1593)W x 587/8”(1497)H
Depth of rebate 11/8”(30)
Depth of jamb 51/8”(131)
Height of footblock 5”(126)
The Beaufort
Designed in 1768 for the 5th Duke of Beaufort,
for the dining room at 5 Grosvenor Square,
London. The Duke was married to Elizabeth
Boscawen, whose father had used Adam for work
at Hatchlands in Surrey. The dining room
chimneypiece was executed by Thomas Carter
junior, a renowned chimneypiece maker, in
accordance with Adam’s design at a cost of £38,
but lost when the house was demolished in 1961.
The Adam Collection
DETAILS
Opening 417/8”(1063)W x 36”(915)H
Shelf 74”(1880)L x 81/4”(210)D
Overall size 651/2”(1664)W x 493/8”(1255)H
Depth of rebate 11/8”(30)
Depth of jamb 53/4”(147)
Height of footblock 55/8 ”(142)
The Roxburghe
Designed in 1777 for the 3rd Duke of Roxburghe for
the library at Roxburghe House, Hanover Square,
London. The Duke was a renowned bibliophile who
commissioned Adam to extend and re-model his
townhouse, in part to create further library space
for his collection of over 10,000 volumes.
Shown in statuary marble with the Osterley brass
fire basket and black slate hearth and slips.
Showrooms
London
194-200 Battersea Park Road,
London SW11 4ND
Telephone 020 7627 1410
Fax 020 7622 1078
Email sales@chesneys.co.uk
734-736 Holloway Road,
London N19 3JF
Telephone 020 7561 8280
Fax 020 7622 1078
Email hollowaysales@chesneys.co.uk
Architectural Showroom:
521-525 Battersea Park Road,
London SW11 3BN
Telephone 020 7978 7224
Email architectural@chesneys.co.uk
For details of UK nationwide stockists:
Telephone 0844 880 5375
Fax 0844 376 0046
Email dealerenquiries@chesneys.co.uk
www.chesneys.co.uk
New York
Suite 1119, 11th Floor,
D&D Building, 979 Third Avenue,
New York NY 10022
Telephone 001 646 840 0609
Fax 001 646 840 0602
Email newyorksales@chesneys-usa.com
For details of US nationwide stockists:
001 404 948 1111
www.chesneys.com