Corsi Collection of Decorative Stones

view of stone 89

Corsi 89, approx. 145 x 73 x 40 mm, © Oxford University Museum of Natural History

side view of stone 89

side view of stone 89, approx. 145 x 73 x 40 mm, © Oxford University Museum of Natural History

OUMNH Number: 89  
Name and quarry location: Cipollino verde, from near Karystos, Euboea, Central Greece  
Geological description: Folded medium-grained calcite marble with layers rich in green iron-bearing silicate minerals including chlorite and epidote.  
Comments: This sample is sawn so that the characteristic banding is visible (faintly) on the sides. Corsi correctly identifies it as cipollino from Euboea, Greece. The sample is sawn parallel to the bedding and so the characteristic banding is only visible on the sides. Cipollino verde was quarried on the slopes of Mount Okhi and elsewhere to the southwest of the Island of Euboea. It was first brought to Rome in the second century BC, and continued to be quarried until the seventh century AD. The quarries were reopened around 1880 by English stone merchant William Brindley, renewing the use of the stone for architectural decoration. Intermittent quarrying continues.  
References: Borghini (1997) 202-203; Corsi (1825) 44-45; Corsi (1845) 97-99; Higgins (1996) 86-87; Lazzarini (1995); Lazzarini (2002c) 257-258; Price (2007) 174-175; Rogers (2008) 38-40; Seeman (1999) 51-52; Watson (1916) 159-163  
Further information:
 


Corsi's classification: Class 1. Marbles; Section 2. Veined marbles; Species 2. Cipollino  
Corsi's text: 45.1 Marmo Cipollino. Marmor Carystium. Nel monte Oco vicino alla città di Caristo v'era la cava d'un marmo chiamato Caristio... marmo Euboico poichè Caristo è nell' isola Eubea oggi Negroponte.  

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