Object Description
An interesting pair of Regency style cast metal table lamps, modelled as Roman lion-headed trapezophoros, decorated to simulate Egyptian imperial porphyry.
Why we like them
A rather unusual object; well-cast and of great heavy quality. We love their bold, flamboyant design, evoking the Grand Tour and Ancient Rome.
The painted decoration simulates ‘Imperial Porphyry’, It is highly prized for its rarity and noble ‘Imperial’ purple colour, a symbol of power. Imperial Porphyry comes from a 600 million-year-old volcanic rock from Gabal Abu Dukhan quarry in the Eastern Desert of Egypt which was discovered by Romans in AD 18. The stone which was extremely hard to quarry and carve was used by the Romans for making objects of dazzling luxury, such as thrones, sarcophagi, sculpture and etc.