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Mid 19th Century Pair of Ashford Pietra Dura Obelisks

About the Item

An excellent mid19th Century pair of Ashford black marble obelisks inlaid with a selection of specimen marbles applied to the front of each column in a decorative floral manner and raised on stepped spreading feet ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Height: 68 cm Width: 22.5 cm Condition: Excellent Original Condition Circa: 1860 Materials: Black marble with coloured marble inlays SKU: 9058 ABOUT Ashford Black Marble Ashford Black Marble is the name given to a dark limestone, quarried from mines near Ashford-in-the-Water, in Derbyshire, England. Once cut, turned and polished, its shiny black surface is highly decorative. Ashford Black Marble is a very fine-grained sedimentary rock and is not a true marble in the geological sense. It can be cut and inlaid with other decorative stones and minerals, using a technique known as Pietra Dura. The mineral has been used decoratively since prehistoric times; the first recorded customer was Bess of Hardwick in 1580. There was a thriving trade in the manufacture of urns, obelisks and other decorative items from Ashford Black Marble during the late 18th and early 19th century. John Mawe had a museum in Matlock Bath that dealt in black marble and Ann Rayner engraved pictures, next door at another museum, on black marble using a diamond. Many fine examples of engraved and inlaid black marble exist in local collections, including those of Derby Museum, Buxton Museum, and Chatsworth House.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 26.78 in (68 cm)Width: 8.86 in (22.5 cm)Depth: 8.86 in (22.5 cm)
  • Style:
    Art Nouveau (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1860
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    London, GB
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 90581stDibs: LU3216338092652
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