The good quality veined Portasanta Brecchia marble top with a patterned cast iron edging, on a pierced Gothic influenced design cast iron pedestal of entwined foliage to a tiered circular base with gadrooning and three scrolling feet, survives from the middle period of Victorian England.
Unknown.
The iron support to this table has some influence of the famous makers of Coalbrookedale designs to it and is certainly very well cast showing a large amount of crisp detailing especially to the foliage.
Portasanta marble is named after the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, it was first used by the ancient Greeks, and was extensively quarried by the Romans from the 1st century BC until the quarries closed in Byzantine times and for centuries their location was lost. William Brindley at the end of the 19th century rediscovered the ancient quarries on the Island of Chios, Greece. Since then, there has been sporadic extraction of the stone. It shows, as we see here, a typical pink/brownish red/grey/white colour to the palette of the breccia, and the net-like arrays of stylolites often seen in large clasts.
A good quality, versatile table with masses of originality and super proportions.
The table is in very good overall condition; there is no movement or fragility and there are no flaws or deficiencies to note. The marble is in super condition and the base has weathering to it giving a nice aged feel with some verdigris showing and it has not been over-painted.
By appointment only.
