ˈchimney-piece
[piece in the artistic sense.]
† 1. A picture, piece of sculpture, or of tapestry, placed as an ornament over a fireplace. Obs.
| 1611 Shakes. Cymb. ii. iv. 81 The Chimney Is South the Chamber, and the Chimney-peece Chaste Dian, bathing. 1622 Peacham Compl. Gentl. xiii. (1634) 128, I have seene many peeces of his [Hans Holbein] in oyle, and one of his owne draught with a penne a most curious chimney-peece. 1647–8 Evelyn Mem. 28 Jan. (1857) I. 254 A very good chimney-piece of water-colours. 1672 Sir C. Wyvill Triple Crown 167 A Cut (black and white) which serves for a Chimney Piece. |
2. The ornamental structure, usually of stone or marble, with moulding, carving, etc., over and around the open recess of a fireplace.
b. Now often used for the simple projecting slab or shelf over the fireplace, the mantel-shelf.
| 1680 Evelyn Mem. 18 Apr., Excellent carving by Gibbons, especialy the chimney-piece of y⊇ library. 1726 Neve Builder's Dict. (ed. 2) Chimney-piece, certain Mouldings of Wood, or Stone, standing on the fireside of the Jambs, and coming over the Mantle-tree. 1790 Gouv. Morris Life & Writ. (1832) I. 348, I stay some time leaning on the chimney piece. 1796 Morse Amer. Geog. II. 206 Those beautiful chimney-pieces..known all over the kingdom by the name of Kilkenny marble. 1806–7 J. Beresford Miseries Hum. Life (1826) vi. 1 A little fat plaster-man on the chimney piece. 1851 Mrs. Carlyle Lett. II. 153. |
| attrib. 1848 Clough Bothie ix. 28 Poor..chimney-piece ornaments under glass-cases. |