snow─white colour, in fine granulations_; and somewhat harder, and
consequently capable of higher polish, than most other white marbles. It
is found near the river Coralus, in Phrygia.
_ITALIAN MARBLES._—145. PARIAN MARBLE _is of snow─white colour,
inclining to yellowish white_. It is obtained from quarries in the
island of Paros, is finely granular, and, when polished, has somewhat of
a waxy appearance. Parian marble hardens by exposure to the air, and is
one of the most permanent kinds that is known. Varro and Pliny each
state that it was named _lychnites_, by the ancients, from a Greek word
signifying a lamp, because it was generally hewn in quarries by the
light of lamps. The finest Grecian sculpture that has been preserved to
the present time is of Parian marble. The principal statues of it now
extant are the Medicean Venus, the Diana Venatrix, and Venus leaving the
Bath. It is also Parian marble on which the celebrated tables at Oxford
are inscribed.
146. CARRARA MARBLE, the purest of all the kinds with which we are
acquainted, is to this day obtained from quarries near the town of
Carrara. _It is of brilliant white colour, has a granular texture; and,
when broken, sparkles like sugar._ This marble, which is almost the only
one in use by modern sculptors, was also quarried and wrought by the
ancients.
It is susceptible of a high polish, and is applicable to every species
of sculpture, except when, as is too often the case, dark veins intrude,
and spoil the beauty of the work. In the centre of the blocks a
beautiful kind of rock crystals, called _Carrara diamonds_, are
sometimes found.
During the late war with France, the exportation of statuary marble from
the countries under the dominion of Buonaparte was prohibited; and, at
one time, it became so scarce in England as to be sold at the rate of
more than seven guineas per cubic foot. The block of marble for the
statue of his late Majesty in the great Council Chamber at Guildhall,
London, was stated by the public prints to have cost twelve hundred
guineas.
147. LUNI MARBLE _is a snow─white, compact, and finely granular
variety_, which was obtained by the ancients from quarries on the coast
of Tuscany. It was preferred by the Grecian sculptors, both to the
Parian and Pentelic marbles; and it is usually supposed that the
Belvidere Apollo, as well as the Antinous of the Capitol, was wrought
out of this marble. There is now found at Luni a white marble,
variegated with red spots and dots.
148. GREEN ANTIQUE MARBLE, or VERDE ANTIQUE _of the Italians, is a
mixture of white marble and green serpentine_ (132). This is believed to
have been obtained from some part of Italy, but the quarries are not now
known.
149. SIENNA MARBLE _is of close texture, and yellowish colour, disposed
in large irregular spots, surrounded with veins of bluish red, passing
sometimes into purple_. It is not uncommon in the vicinity of Sienna,
and is in great request, throughout Europe, for chimney─pieces and
ornamental furniture.
150. BROCATELLO MARBLE is somewhat like the last; but is also
irregularly marked with various shades of red, and, in some parts, with
white.
151. MANDELATO MARBLE _is of light red colour, with yellowish white
spots_. It is found at Lugezzana, in the Veronese. Another variety,
bearing the same name, occurs at Preosa.
152. VERDE DI PRATO MARBLE _is a green marble, marked with darker green
spots_, which is found near the town of Prato in Tuscany.
153. LAGO MAGGIORE MARBLE _is a beautiful kind, white, with black spots
and dots_. It has been employed for decorating the interior of many
churches in the Milanese.
154. BRETONICO MARBLE.—This beautiful marble, which is found near the
village of Bretonico, in the Veronese, _is varied with yellow, grey, and
rose colour_.
_FRENCH MARBLES._—155. Many valuable kinds of marble are obtained from
different parts of the French territory.
156. CAMPAN MARBLE.—Three kinds of marble are known by this name, all of
them procured from immense quarries at Campan, near Bagnere, in the
Pyrenees. The first, called _Green Campan_, is of pale sea─green colour,
and exhibits, on its surface, lines of much deeper green, forming a kind
of net─work. The second, called _Isabel Campan_, is of delicate rose
colour, with undulating green veins. The third variety, the _Red
Campan_, is of deep red colour, with veins of still deeper red. The
green variegations in this stone are formed by a talcy mineral,
intermixed with the lime─stone.—The Campan marble is well adapted for
slabs, tables, chimney─pieces, and other ornamental purposes in the
interior of buildings; but, if exposed to the weather, the talcose
substances perish, and leave hollow spaces which render its surface
rough and uneven.
157. GRIOTTE MARBLE _is of a deep brown colour, with blood─red oval
spots, formed by shells_. Its name has been obtained from its brownish
colour, being similar to that of the cherries that are called by the
French _griotte_. This marble has, of late, been much used in the
decoration of public monuments, and in splendid furniture, in France.
Some of the ornaments of the Triumphal Arch of the Carousel are made of
it. The department of Herault is the part of France from which it is
obtained. It sometimes contains large white veins, which destroy the
harmony of the other tints.
158. MARQUESE MARBLE.—This, which is obtained from quarries, near the
village of Marquese, between Calais and Boulogne, is marked with
_different shades and variegations of white and brown_. Of this marble
Buonaparte commenced a magnificent column on the heights near the sea,
at Boulogne, to commemorate his victories; but, since his dethronement,
the erection of this structure has been discontinued.
159. SARENCOLIN MARBLE _is distinguished by exhibiting large zones, and
angular spots of yellow or blood─red colour_. It is found at Sarencolin,
in the High Pyrenees.
160. ST. BEAUME, or LANGUEDOC MARBLE, _is of light red colour, marked
with white and grey zones, formed by madrepores_. The eight columns
which adorn the Triumphal Arch, in the Carousel at Paris, are of this
marble. It is obtained from quarries at St. Beaume, in the department of
Aude.
161. BRECCIA MARBLE OF THE PYRENEES.—One kind of this marble contains
black, grey, and red, middle─sized spots in a brownish red ground. It
admits of a good polish. Another kind has an orange─yellow─coloured
ground, containing small fragments of snow─white colour. Both these are
found in the Pyrenees.
_SPANISH MARBLES._—162. Few countries are more productive of marble than
Spain; and in few countries are the public monuments and buildings more
profusely decorated with marble. The vault of the theatre of Toledo is
supported by 350 marble columns; and an ancient mosque at Cordova is
ornamented with 1200 columns, most of which are of Spanish marble. The
palace and church of the Escurial, and many of the churches in Madrid,
are decorated with marbles of the most beautiful description.
163. WHITE SPANISH MARBLE.—Near Cordova; at Filabres, three leagues from
Almeria, in Grenada; and in some other parts of Spain, white marble is
obtained, which is susceptible of a good polish, and is well adapted to
the general purposes of sculpture.
164. SEVILLE MARBLE _is a beautiful red variety, with shining red and
white spots and veins_. In the vicinity of TORTOSA is found a kind of
marble which has a _violet ground, spotted with bright yellow_; and near
GRENADA a marble of _green colour_, which somewhat resembles the
celebrated verde antique (149).
165. SPANISH BRECCIA.—There are several beautiful varieties of breccia
in Spain. At Riela, in Arragon, there is one, composed of angular
portions or fragments of black marble, embedded in a reddish yellow
base. The breccia marble of Old Castile is of bright red colour, dotted
with yellow and black, and encloses fragments of pale yellow, brick─red,
deep brown, and blackish grey colour.
_GERMAN MARBLES._—166. Germany abounds in marbles, and affords many
kinds which are remarkable both for beauty and singularity. Of these the
kind best known is
167. LUMACHELLI MARBLE.—_This exhibits beautiful iridescent colours,
which are sometimes prismatic internally, but more commonly of various
shades of red or orange_; whence it has also obtained the name of _fire
marble_. Few kinds of marble are more generally admired than this. It
has a dark ground, and is marked throughout with the appearance of small
whitish shells, which, in certain parts, refract the most beautiful and
brilliant colours. This marble is cut into the tops and bottoms of
snuff─boxes, and several other ornamental articles. It is found in veins
at Bleyberg, in Carinthia.
168. Many beautiful kinds of marble are obtained from the island of
SICILY, particularly one called _Sicilian jasper_, which is red, with
stripes like ribbons, white, red, and sometimes green. SWITZERLAND
abounds in marbles; PORTUGAL, SWEDEN, and NORWAY afford few. In the
RUSSIAN EMPIRE many have been noticed, particularly among the Uralian
mountains. The late Empress Catharine caused an immense palace to be
built for her favourite Orloff, which is entirely coated, both inside
and outside, with marble. She built the church of Isaac with marbles of
different kinds, on a vast space, near the statue of Peter the Great, in
Petersburgh. We are at present very imperfectly acquainted with the
marbles of ASIA. Dr. Shaw mentions a red marble obtained from Mount
Sinai; and Mr. Morier, in his journey through Persia, speaks of a
beautiful translucent kind which he calls _marble of Tabriz_, and the
colours of which are light green, with veins sometimes of red, sometimes
of blue. He says it is cut into large slabs, some of which he describes
to have measured nine feet in length, and five feet in breadth.—No
account has hitherto been published of the marbles of AFRICA.—In the
United States of AMERICA many kinds of marble have been discovered, some
of which have been wrought, and polished; but very imperfect
descriptions have yet been given of them.
169. Few countries produce a greater variety of excellent marbles than
the BRITISH ISLANDS. Although these marbles are seldom noticed much
beyond the limits of the districts in which they occur, many of them are
admirably adapted for ornamental purposes; particularly for slabs and
chimney─pieces. It is much to be regretted that we should send to
foreign countries for stones which, in many instances at least, could
certainly be as well supplied from our own. The following is an
enumeration of a few of the most important kinds.
_ENGLISH MARBLES._—170. PETWORTH MARBLE, when cut into slabs, is equal,
both in beauty and quality, to many of the marbles imported from the
Continent. The Earl of Egremont has, at Petworth, several chimney─pieces
formed of it. Much of this marble was used in the cathedral church of
Canterbury. The pillars, monuments, vaults, pavement, and other parts of
that venerable structure, have been formed of it. The archbishop’s chair
is an entire piece of Petworth marble. This marble is found in greatest
perfection upon an estate of the Earl of Egremont, at Kirdford. It lies
at the distance of from ten to twenty feet under the surface of the
ground, and in flakes or strata nine or ten inches in thickness.
Petworth marble is also an excellent stone for walls; and, for paving,
it cannot be excelled. When burned, it also constitutes a valuable
manure, superior, as some farmers imagine, even to chalk.
171. PURBECK MARBLE is obtained from the island of Purbeck, in
Dorsetshire. _It is of dark colour, and contains numerous small round
shells_, which, when it is cut and polished, mark it with roundish
variegations of brown, dark green, and grey. This marble was formerly
more used than it is at present. Several of the small columns, and many
of the monuments, in the churches of Dorsetshire, and the adjacent
counties, are formed of it. But it is not so durable as many other
kinds. Wherever it is long exposed to the weather, the surface cracks,
splits off, and becomes defaced.
172. BABBICOMBE MARBLE is one of the most beautiful kinds that is found
in any country. _It varies in colour, from light brown to deep red_; and
large slabs of it have been obtained that are elegantly and diversely
marked, some in streaks, others in spots, and others in different
coloured shades.
This kind is quarried at Babbicombe, in Torbay, Devonshire, and is
extensively manufactured into chimney─pieces in the West of England. An
attempt was lately made to introduce it in London; but, from its not
being the production of a foreign country, this has failed of success.
173. DERBYSHIRE MARBLE.—There are, in Derbyshire, several kinds of
marble, most of which contain an abundance of fossil shells, and other
remains of marine animals. At Wetton, near Ashbourne, a beautiful kind
is obtained, of greyish black colour, which contains a vast number of
whitish and very minute shells. This has the name of _bird’s eye
marble_. Near Monyash a beautiful variety is found, of a cheerful
colour, inclining to brown red, and full of large marine figures in all
directions; these, when the marble is cut, appear white, and afford a
pleasing contrast.
174. KENDAL MARBLE.—Some varieties of black, grey, and brown marble, are
wrought near Kendal, in Westmoreland. These somewhat resemble the
Derbyshire marbles; and, like them, are manufactured into
chimney─pieces, and ornamental slabs for houses. Several of the slabs
are found to contain corallines, and the remains of other marine
animals, which vary their appearance in a very pleasing manner.
The MONA MARBLE is a species of serpentine intermixed with white
limestone: it has been already described (132).
_SCOTTISH MARBLES._—Scotland affords many valuable and beautiful
varieties of marble.
175. TIRIE MARBLE.—Few of the British kinds of marble have been more
admired than that obtained from Tirie, one of the Western Islands of
Scotland. _It is of a reddish, sometimes a delicate rose─coloured tint,
and sometimes white; and is always intermixed with other minerals which
add to its beauty._ The most common of these is of black colour, and
called hornblende; the others are pale green sahlite, blackish brown
mica (123), and green chlorite. In some varieties the hornblende is more
abundant than the marble.
176. ASSYNT MARBLE.—At Assynt, in Sutherland, _a white marble_ has been
discovered, which is perfectly solid and pure, and entirely free from
blemishes or stains. Blocks or slabs of it may be cut of almost any size
that can be required. This marble acquires a smooth surface, but remains
of a dead hue; whence, of course, its uses as an ornamental marble are
much circumscribed.
177. ISLE OF SKY MARBLE.—There is found in the Isle of Sky a marble of
pure white colour, which appears capable of yielding large and valuable
blocks. Its fracture is granular and splintery, and its texture fine. It
is harder, heavier, and more compact than the marble of Carrara (146);
and is apparently well fitted for all the purposes of sculpture. But it
has the defect of being very unequally hard. While some parts of the
stone are nearly as easy to work as that of Carrara, other parts are so
hard as to add a charge of near fifty per cent. to the cost of the
working.
178. SUTHERLAND MARBLE.—Some beautiful specimens of marble of dark brown
colour, veined with whitish, light red, or light brown, have lately been
brought from the county of Sutherland. These appear of close texture,
are susceptible of a beautiful polish, and are capable of being wrought
into extremely beautiful slabs for chimney─pieces and other ornamental
purposes.
179. GLEN TILT MARBLE _is of white or grey colour, and veined or spotted
with yellow or green; some specimens are nearly white_. The granulations
are peculiarly large; and, in its aspect and composition, the Glen Tilt
has great general resemblance to the Pentelic marble (143). This marble
has of late attracted the notice of the Duke of Athol, through the
suggestion of Dr. Macculloch; and chimney─pieces of it have since been
made. It is obtained from a valley of the same name in the county of
Perth.
180. BLAIRGOWRIE MARBLE.—A few miles from Blairgowrie, in Perthshire,
there is an excellent granulated broad─bedded marble, _of sugar─loaf
texture, and as white as the finest statuary marble_. It may be easily
raised in blocks and in slabs of great size, perfectly free from
blemishes. This marble is supposed to be well adapted for ornamental
architecture, but its large sparry texture renders it unfit for the
sculptor.
181. GLENAVON MARBLE _is of white colour, with large granular
concretions_, somewhat like spangles, and as large as the scales of
fishes. This is a valuable kind; but its situation in the forest of
Glenavon, on the property of the Duke of Gordon, is remote and difficult
of access.
182. BALLICHULISH MARBLE.—On the north side of the ferry of
Ballichulish, in Lochaber, there is a rock of marble, of beautiful
_ash─grey colour_, and of a fine, regular, and uniform grain, which is
capable of being wrought into blocks or slabs of any size, and is
susceptible of a fine polish. This marble is finely sprinkled throughout
with grains and specks of pyrites (236), and with grains and specks of a
beautiful lead ore, which to the eye appears to be rich in silver. If
used for ornamental purposes, it would be a bright and beautiful
metallic marble.
183. BLAIRMACHYLDACH MARBLE.—In the bed of a river, at the farm of
Blairmachyldach, about three miles south of Fort William, is a singular
marble, consisting of _a black ground, flowered with white_. It is of
fine close grain, but not very hard. The flowering in it is light, and
beautiful, like fine needle─work, or rather resembling the frosty
fret─work upon glass windows, in a winter morning.
The cutting and polishing of marble appear to have been performed by the
ancients nearly in the same manner as it is with us. In polishing, the
first substance employed is a sharp, coarse─grained sand. Afterwards a
finer sand is used, then emery (58) in different degrees of fineness.
These are followed by a red powder called tripoli (119): and the last
polish is given with putty.
184. _BLACK MARBLE is a species of limestone, of uniform black colour,
and easily distinguishable, by an excessively disagreeable smell, which
is emitted on rubbing two pieces of it together, or striking it with a
hammer._
Few minerals are susceptible of a more beautiful polish than this. It is
consequently much used for chimney─pieces, small columns, vases, and
other ornamental work. There are two quarries of black marble near
Bakewell, in Derbyshire: and it is manufactured to a considerable extent
by Messrs. Brown and Co. at Derby, who have fixed up in their ware─rooms
a large slab of it as a looking─glass.
By the ancients it was much prized. Marcus Scaurus is said to have
ornamented his palace with columns of black marble, each thirty─eight
feet high; and many of the monuments of ancient Persepolis were executed
in it. M. D’Avejan, Bishop of Alais, used a kind of black marble for
paving the apartments of his palace; but the friction and heat rendered
it so fetid that his successors were compelled to substitute another
species of stone in its place.—The pavements, however, of many churches,
and of the porticos of several galleries, on the Continent, are of black
marble.
185. _CALCAREOUS ALABASTER is a species of limestone of somewhat whitish
or yellowish colour, translucent, and internally splendent or shining._
_It is nearly a pure carbonat of lime; and occurs in masses, hanging,
like immense icicles, from the roofs of lime─stone caverns, and also
coating the sides of such caverns._
The formation of this substance is deserving of notice. The water which
oozes through the crevices of limestone rocks, becomes strongly
impregnated with minute particles of lime. This water, when it has
reached the roof or side of a cavern, is generally suspended, for a
considerable time, before a drop of sufficient size to fall by its own
weight is formed. In the interval which thus elapses, some of the
particles of lime are separated from the water, owing to the escape of
the carbonic acid (26), and adhere to the roof. In this manner
successive particles are separated, and are attached to each other,
until what is called a _stalactite_, having somewhat the appearance of
an icicle, is formed. These stalactites are sometimes solid, having a
lamellar structure; sometimes of a fibrous texture, radiating from the
centre to the circumference, as may be observed when they are broken;
and sometimes hollow. If the water collects and drops too rapidly to
allow time for the formation of a stalactite, it falls upon the floor,
and there forms an irregular lump of alabaster, which has the name of
_stalagmite_. In some caverns, the separation of the calcareous matter
takes place both at the roof and on the floor; and, in course of time,
the substance upon each increasing, they meet, and form pillars,
sometimes of great magnitude.
Caverns of this kind occur in almost every country. Those of Derbyshire
are well known; but the most celebrated stalactitic cave in the world is
that of Antiparos, in the Grecian Archipelago.
The kind of limestone formed in the above manner is what the ancients
generally denominated _alabaster_. It was employed by them for the same
purposes as marble, was cut into tables, columns, vases, and sometimes
even into statues. They also used it in the manufacture of vases or
boxes for containing unguents. It is supposed to have been a vessel
formed of this stone that is mentioned in the Gospel of St. Matthew,
where it is said there came unto our Saviour “a woman having an
alabaster box of precious ointment.” In the National Museum at Paris
there is a colossal figure of an Egyptian deity, which is cut in a kind
of alabaster brought from the mountains between the Nile and the Red
Sea.
186. _TUFA, or INCRUSTING CARBONAT OF LIME, is a calcareous substance
deposited by such water as is impregnated with lime._
_It clothes, with a stony coat, the smaller branches of trees, leaves,
moss, plants, and other substances; and thus preserves them from decay,
by protecting them from the action of the atmosphere._
Most of the substances termed by the common people _petrifactions_
belong to this kind of lime. They are, however, merely covered with, and
by no means converted into stone.
The dropping well at Knaresborough, in Yorkshire, is particularly
celebrated for them. An overhanging rock, several yards in depth, has
been gradually formed of the calcareous matter which the water holds in
solution; and, from this rock, it incessantly drops into the basin
below. The persons who have the care of the place constantly keep these
petrified articles for sale. Even old wigs and hair brooms are subjected
to the powers of the water, to furnish subjects for attraction to the
visitors. There are other springs of this description in Oxfordshire and
Somersetshire, and particularly at Matlock, in Derbyshire. We are
informed that at Dalton, on the south side of Mendip, the workmen not
unfrequently discover large pieces of oak enveloped in blocks of stone
which are four or five tons in weight.
Blocks of tufa are, in some countries, cut and used for building stones;
and this substance, when burned, becomes an excellent lime. Pieces of it
are sometimes hollowed, and used as filtering stones.
In the British Museum there is a human skull completely incrusted with
stone, which was found in the river Tiber.
The warm baths of Hungary are often so thickly coated at the sides and
bottom with tufa, that, during certain intervals, it actually fills up
the tubes and canals through which they are supplied. The _fur in
teakettles_ is a somewhat similar deposit from water in boiling.
187. _PORTLAND STONE, BATH STONE, KETTON STONE, are different kinds of
limestone; and, of a texture so hard and compact as to be used in
building._