The area over the fireplace, the over-mantel,
was the main set piece in a home of the era. Huge and impressive figures and
coats of arms of wood or plaster were displayed here, announcing to everyone
who visited the honor and glory of the owners and of their patrons. Fireplaces
were a relatively new development in domestic interiors – in the medieval
era, smoke from open hearths was left to find its own way out of the rooms.
In this room, the over-mantel announces the owners’ loyalty to James
I by displaying his royal arms and initials (“I.R.”) in a crown
at the very top under the cornice.
The large plaster figures flanking the arms, called caryatids, represent Peace
(left) and Plenty (right) – perhaps referencing Elizabeth’s rule
of “Peace and Prosperity”. These figures are made of slaked lime,
white sand, and white hair. They probably were originally uncolored, in a
local Devon plasterwork tradition which imitated French stone over-mantels,
and then were probably colored in the 18th century, and have now been returned
to their original color.
To see microscopic evidence of the paint chips taken from the overmantel that
show the layers of colored paint, click here.
