Small faceted column.
Large antique marble.
19th century.
Grand antique marble has been renowned since Antiquity for its aesthetic aspect, which presents a very clear contrast in its tones, which is not present on any other marble. The Romans called it "marmor celticum" because it came from quarries now located in the department of Ariège in France and was exported in large quantities to Rome and Constantinople. It was also used during the Byzantine period for the decoration of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. After this period of great activity, the quarry was abandoned and the blocks were used to decorate the Basilica of St. Peter, the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, the Basilica of Santa Cecilia in Rome and the Basilica of San Marco in Venice. Its exploitation resumed briefly in the 19th century.
