Pair of serpentinite columns, Italy before the 17th century

Rare pair of cylindrical columns in green serpentinite* resting on white marble ogee plinths.

Restorations and losses.

Italy before the 17th century.

Height: 120cm; Diameter: 30 cm, Base: 40 cm per side.

Our opinion :

Our columns feature beautiful green hues and a snakeskin texture typical of serpentinite.
This mythical material was extracted from antiquity in northern Italy, particularly in Tuscany, in Figline de Prato.
Its use was constant, from the Roman Empire to the Renaissance through the Middle Ages when it was used for the construction of the most beautiful monuments of Florence.
As indicated by the traces of mortises on our serpentinite cylinders, our two elements are sections that were stacked to form large columns.
These "reused" elements are difficult to date but their natural wear allows us to place them before the 17th century.
Mounted in a saddle probably in the 19th century, our two columns constitute the perfect support to present a beautiful sculpture or an antique piece.


*Serpentinite is a metamorphic rock consisting largely of serpentine (a generic name covering several mineral species). It owes its name to its appearance similar to that of scales and to a particular sensation to the touch, which could have evoked the skin of a snake.