Two cylindrical colored marble specimens - Lumachella and verde antico

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About the Item

Two cylindrical colored marble specimens - Lumachella and verde antico 19th century Lumachella orientale cylindrical specimen Diameter 14 cm; High 12 cm Lumachella orientale is a richly colored marble highly esteemed since antiquity. Its name, derived from the Italian word for “snail” (lumaca), refers to the fossilized marine shells embedded within, which often retain their distinct forms. As noted in Faustino Corsi’s Reasoned Catalogue of a Collection of Decorative Stones Formed and Possessed in Rome(1825), this marble boasts a compact texture and can be polished to a stunning sheen. This rare dark-brown fossil marble features small, iridescent, opal-like shells—hence the name "lumachella," meaning “little snail.” The stone is characterized by its remarkable iridescence and chatoyant effects, often found in a matrix of gray, grayish-green, or grayish-blue hues. Historically, lumachella was quarried in Djebel Oust, not Thuburbo Maius as previously suggested, within the ancient territory of Carthage, which the Romans annexed in 146 B.C. The exact location of its quarry remains undiscovered. Lumachella's popularity peaked during the late Republican period and continued into the second century A.D., playing a significant role in Roman decorative arts, including pavement inserts and revetment plaques. The rich natural resources of Carthage likely began to be exploited by the Romans shortly after their conquest, although large-scale extraction likely didn't occur until the region stabilized following the Jugurthine War in 105 B.C. The use of prized marbles like lumachella orientale reflects the immense wealth displayed by Roman aristocrats in their homes during this era. Verde antico cylindrical specimen D 8 cm ; H 9 cm Verde antique (from the obsolete French, derived from the Italian verde antico, meaning "ancient green")—also known as marmor thessalicum or Ophite—is a serpentinite breccia that has been prized as a decorative stone since antiquity. This stone features a deep, muted green base mottled or veined with white, and is composed of serpentine mixed with calcite, dolomite, or magnesite. Its surface can be polished to a high sheen, making it a favored choice for various applications. Primarily used in interior decoration, verde antique is also occasionally employed for outdoor trim, though its natural masses are often jointed, resulting in the availability of only smaller slabs. The Romans notably quarried this stone at Casambala, near Larissa in Thessaly, Greece. Here, it was referred to as marmor thessalicum or Thessalian marble. According to Diocletian's Edict on Maximum Prices, Thessalian marble was valued at 150 denarii per cubic foot—more costly than the esteemed Egyptian grey granite from Mons Claudianus (granito del foro) and the red granite from Aswan (lapis syenites). It was even pricier than cipollino from Carystus, surpassed only by Synnadic or Docimaean marble from Docimium, the porphyritic green lapis Lacedaemonius from Laconia, and imperial porphyry from Mons Porphyrites. In fact, verde antique was three times the cost of grey-white marble from Thassos. Throughout history, verde antique was extensively utilized by monumental builders of the Byzantine Empire and later by the Ottomans. Today, columns and revetments made of this stone can be found in many monuments throughout Istanbul, many of which date back to the city's time as Constantinople.

Dimensions:
Height: 4.73 in (12 cm)Diameter: 5.52 in (14 cm)
Style:
Modern (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Marble,Carved
Place of Origin:
Italy
Period:
Late 19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
19th century
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Bruxelles, BE
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU6666241887212

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