Exceptional 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Alabastro Rosa Fiorito Antico Urn

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Exceptional 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Alabastro Rosa Fiorito Antico Urn

About the Item

Exceptional and rare 19th century gilt bronze mounted Alabastro Rosa Fiorito Antico urn. The finely cast polished and gilt Bronze mounts are an absolute delight to behold, coupled with this truly magnificent of rare stones, exhibiting the finest and most dramatic figurations makes this a sculptural masterpiece. The scarcity of use during the 18th and 19th century of Alabastro Rosa Fiorito makes a piece of this remarkable figural beauty, size and detail a truly exceptional rarity. The outstandingly superb ''Green Man'' grotesque handles, with hanging laurels from their mouths are full of the most wonderful character, sculpted very much in the ''grotesque mask'' manner of the vibrant drawings of Frans Huys (Dutch, 1522–1562). In excellent condition for its age, use and handling. Alabastro Rosa Fiorito is among the most beautiful and rare of ancient stones, with its distinct veining, exceptional colors and stunning lustre. The characteristics of this superlatively figured example are the rarest you could ever find. It is a compact banded travertine composed mainly of Calcite, with some bands as colorless prismatic crystals. It is richly colored by iron oxides, red Hematite and brown Goethite, in places there are clearly bushy growths, as appear in this magnificent example, suggesting the action of Cyanobacteria. It was most probably from the Pamukkale area, Denizli in Turkey. The spa resort of Pamukkale is the site of the ancient city of Hierapolis, and travertine, deposited by hot springs, forms huge terraces from which stone was extracted in ancient times. Ancient quarries have been located near the ruins of Hierapolis and near the village of Gölemezli. The Roman Lawyer and most respected collector of ancient decorative stones used by the Romans, Avvocato Faustino Corsi (1771-1846) noted that Alabastro a Rosa Fiorito, of which this stunning piece is the finest of examples, was ''Rarissimo'', very rare. According to Pliny the Elder, Alabastro takes its name from a the castle of Alabastro near the city of Thebes in Egypt. The Romans started to import the stone during the 2nd century BC when it was used to make busts of Gods and prominent individuals, as well as vessels to contain perfumes and ointments, as it was believed it would best preserve these. Alabaster was also used to make columns, such as the large example from the Museum of the Villa Albani that Faustino Corsi Romano refers to in his Pietre Antiche of 1843. The absolute finest figured example of this most majestic and rare of stones, with truly exceptionally mounts throughout. A Museum quality masterpiece. Approximate size: Height 16.75 inches Width 8 inches A truly magnificent sculptural and palatial work of art.

Dimensions:
Height: 16.75 in (42.55 cm)Width: 8 in (20.32 cm)Depth: 5 in (12.7 cm)
Style:
Grand Tour (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Marble,Ormolu
Place of Origin:
Europe
Period:
Mid-19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1850
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
London, GB
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU1204217285812