Bought this "Italian Solid Marble Fireplace" on ebay for £50.
Eamailed the seller to ask if the items is as described and was told yes.
Arranged for a delviery (£100) and this arrives.

I am no expert on marble and didn't know they made fireplaces hoolow nowadays, however here is why i think it is fake:

• Room temperature to the touch (expected this to be cold, like any other stone)
• the inside, though it does seem to have some veins/marks looks like it was made using a cast, with seams and bubbles visible (I'd expect the marble just to be cut out crudely.
• "marble" chippings did not fizz or make any bubbles when submerged in vinegar (see pic)

E-mailed the seller and was told I should be glad I got it for 50, when their parents paid £800 for it and that they are sure that they sent off a solid marble fireplace with teh deliveryman, but can't guarantee (guarantee what? that it magically transformed into a fake whilst with the deliveryman?) that this is what arrived to me.

I need your help PH. I need your help with two things:
1. Tell me how i can be absolutely sure that this is or isn't marble
2. if it isn't what to do? a simple refund is not exactly going to make things fare and square now.

See pic attached

Where's that "Not sure if serious" picture when you need it?

I'm no expert, but I don't think you can, or would, carve marble that thin.

Looks like it's been cast in a mould so is some sort or resin, maybe with marble bits in it?

I think that real marble would have another 0 on the price, you probably paid the right price for what it is.

You REALLY tested it?

Jesus Christ....

As said above, at least a refund will be easy given one look at the thing!

Yes. Yes, it will. Doesn't look too bad for £50 though.

It's some kind of moulded composite.

Still, for £50...

I was just about to say this, actual marble would weigh a lot.

That's the kicker though it was £150 with the delivery, and sadly my first opportunity to check it out for myself was when it got delivered

In all likelyhood ebay will side with me with the refund and the original owners will not pay to have the item collected, so it will be a £100 purchase.

I have no idea what ebay's rules are about describing things properly, but if the first pic is one from the ad, you should have known it wasn't marble.

That said, that's not really the issue, is it? The item was misdescribed so you'll need recourse through ebay. I hope you've left very negative feedback for the seller, too.