Got a large marble fire surround in our new house that looks like its
come from a house clearance and been unceremoniuosly stuck on the
chimeny breast where is looks totally out of place, doest even fit the
breast properly, far too big and dark for the room. Needless to say we
are thinking of getting rid. The other day we had a visitor who's quite
in the know who said its probably worth at least £2000. Now the
getting rid option seems slightly more appealing.

Are there any websites for dating / identifying styles of fire
surrounds or someone I could send pictures to to get an estimated
value??

wrote:
Got a large marble fire surround in our new house that looks like its
come from a house clearance and been unceremoniuosly stuck on the
chimeny breast where is looks totally out of place, doest even fit the
breast properly, far too big and dark for the room. Needless to say we
are thinking of getting rid. The other day we had a visitor who's quite
in the know who said its probably worth at least £2000. Now the
getting rid option seems slightly more appealing.

Are there any websites for dating / identifying styles of fire
surrounds or someone I could send pictures to to get an estimated
value??

---------------------------

You could try the antiques newsgroups, a Google for marble fire surround
dealers, and a search on eBay. You could take some photos to a building
reclamation firm (your Yellow pages should list a few) but say you are
looking to buy something similar because the sell-to-the-dealer price will
be a lot different. Local auction firms are also worth trying - they may be
willing to visit and give you an idea of the value for auction, or look at
your photos. You might get a good price if you can find a private buyer, or
sell it at auction, but if you have to sell to the trade then it's the
dealer who gets the good price. I hope your visitor was right. In my
experience these impromptu valuations are very optimistic.

Phil
----
http://www.freeinformationcentre.co....er_advice.html

wrote:
Got a large marble fire surround in our new house that looks like its
come from a house clearance and been unceremoniuosly stuck on the
chimeny breast where is looks totally out of place, doest even fit the
breast properly, far too big and dark for the room. Needless to say we
are thinking of getting rid. The other day we had a visitor who's
quite in the know who said its probably worth at least £2000. Now the
getting rid option seems slightly more appealing.

Are there any websites for dating / identifying styles of fire
surrounds or someone I could send pictures to to get an estimated
value??

So if he/she thought it worth 2k I'm wondering why they didn't offer 1k and
cop for 2k? :-)

--
Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite

"The3rd Earl Of Derby" wrote:
So if he/she thought it worth 2k I'm wondering why they didn't offer 1k
and
cop for 2k? :-)

--
Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite

Same here. I think it is just another way of paying a compliment. I would
rather have the money!

Phil
----

Phil Anthropist wrote:
wrote:
Got a large marble fire surround in our new house that looks like its
come from a house clearance and been unceremoniuosly stuck on the
chimeny breast where is looks totally out of place, doest even fit the
breast properly, far too big and dark for the room. Needless to say we
are thinking of getting rid. The other day we had a visitor who's quite
in the know who said its probably worth at least £2000. Now the
getting rid option seems slightly more appealing.

Are there any websites for dating / identifying styles of fire
surrounds or someone I could send pictures to to get an estimated
value??


Ebay the thing.

I did this with a fairly naff Victorian cast iron surround.

In reality, a couple of thousand is what it costs in a showroom, all
cleaned up and sold to a mad ditzhead in Chelsea.
Covered in cement dust and in a semi in Hartlepool. You might get a
hundred or it..

Good marble fireplaces have been going on ebay recently for anything
from £100 to £500 depending on size, condition, quality, I have not
seen any slate or marble victorian fireplaces fetching more than £750

"nigmyk" wrote:
Good marble fireplaces have been going on ebay recently for anything
from £100 to £500 depending on size, condition, quality, I have not
seen any slate or marble victorian fireplaces fetching more than £750

------------------

Agree. The sort of late 1800s to early 1900s marble fire surrounds that were
often installed in 'ordinary' semi and detached homes are unlikely to fetch
more than 800 GPS providing they are attractive and in very good condition,
and a dealer would probably offer around 100 GBS. I have got an original
fine black marble specimen in my living room, but would never sell it.

Done a little research and its a late victorian rouge marble surround.
it doest fit the house at all and is quite obviously from somewhere
much bigger.

it's in really good condition with no cracks etc. did a quick google
for similar things. nearest I could find which actually looks quite
close is going for £3,800 on an antiques website. as you say though,
this was cleaned up and restored - and removed from the wall!

dont want to get rid of it but if you saw it and the room its in you'd
understand why we are considering it.