Rare 19th Century Grand Tour Porphyry Marble Roman Vase

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Rare 19th Century Grand Tour Porphyry Marble Roman Vase

About the Item

Exceptionally rare 19th century ancient lapis Spartanus Grecian Porphyry Gaulise Amphora shaped lidded vase. The rarity of this stone cannot be overstated. The deepest green groundmass filled with the most incredible yellow green and creamy white snowflake star-shaped phenocrysts of plagioclase Feldspar create the most dramatic of appearances. The characteristics of this superlatively figured example are the rarest you could ever find. The Roman Lawyer & most respected collector of ancient decorative stones used by the Romans, Avvocato Faustino Corsi (1771-1846) noted that Porfido Verde Antico, of which this stunning piece is the rarest of varieties, ''was only ever found in rather small pieces''. This most important stone comes from the Levetsovo or Krokees area in the Laconia region in Greece. It is in excellent condition for its age. This outstanding and incredibly rare geological specimen has been sculpted into the most elegant of ancient form, a 19th century neoclassical masterpiece. This extraordinary variety of Porphyry comes from the ancient area that was Sparta. There are a few carvings of this stone that date to the Minoan & Mycenaean civilizations, but the later Greeks did not use it. It was the Romans, in the first Century CE, who adopted & used this truly fabulous stone with great relish. Authors from ancient times have referred to it under various names, such as ''Lapis Laxedaemonius'', after the ancient name for Laconia; ''Lapis Taygetas'' from the name of the mountain range where it would have been quarried; ''Lapis Croceus'' after the nearby town of Croceae, now called Krokeai or Krokees ; and ''Lapis Spartanus'' because Krokeai was located very near the city of Sparta. Geologists use the term ''porphyrytic'' to describe and igneous rock that has larger crystals embedded in a incredibly fine grained groundmass, so colors and compositions can and do vary considerably. The larger crystals are referred to as ''phenocysts''. Because many of these most decorative stones traditionally called ''Porphyry'' are of volcanic origin, the colors within are all products of ancient dramatic volcanic eruptions. All varieties of Porphyry are incredibly valued and due to their immense difficulty, time and expense involved to work them, as well as their rarity, were used only for the most exceptional spiritual and palatial locations. Approximate size: Height 18.5 inches Width 9 inches Depth 9 inches A truly exquisite, elegant, incredibly rare and exceptional geological masterpiece.

Dimensions:
Height: 18.5 in (46.99 cm)Width: 9 in (22.86 cm)Depth: 9 in (22.86 cm)
Style:
Greco Roman (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques:
Porphyry,Carved,Turned
Place of Origin:
Europe
Period:
Early 19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1810
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
London, GB
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU120429091493