Neoclassical Style Column - 1850-1900 - Green marble 'Serpentino'

Magnificent column/pedestal in Verde Antico or 'Serpentino' marble, a brecciated rock of mixed origin containing fragments of marble and ophiolite, which owes its name to the spots that resemble a snake's skin. This ornamental stone comes from Greece and was widely used by the Romans, especially during the Augustan age, for architectural purposes such as columns, capitals, and cladding. It was also extensively used during the Renaissance for the most exclusive decorations of noble and cardinal family palaces. The column is composed of four pieces: a capital with support, a shaft, and an octagonal base, all interlocking, with the capital featuring a central pin. The entire column has been hand-carved, including the smooth, polished parts and the beautiful leaf-shaped decorations along the shaft and at the lower bulb. The numbers of the matching pieces (no. 4) are also chiseled into the stone, making this column truly unique and of great value because it is entirely original from the 19th century. The column comes from a private collection and shows some minor ancient chips.