‘Campan rubané’ Marble Column, France 18th century

Marble Campan rubané
French, 19th Century

H 136 x D 34 cm
H 53 1/2 x D 13 2/5 inch




The cylindrical column is carved from Campan rubané, a decorative marble historically quarried in the Campan Valley in the French Pyrenees (Hautes-Pyrénées). The marble is renowned for its distinctive bands ("rubané" meaning "ribboned") of pale green, grey, and rich purplish-red veining that appear in undulating, often dramatic diagonal patterns.
It exhibits the characteristic microcrystalline texture and chromatic striations of Campan rubané. The surface presents pale green to bluish-grey fields marked by continuous ribbon-like veins of violet to deep burgundy, a visual rhythm that recalls geological sedimentation but with unmistakable aesthetic intention. This visual dynamism made Campan rubané a favored choice for architectural elements and luxury furnishings in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Marbre Campan rubané was extensively used under the Ancien Régime and into the 19th century for interior decoration in palaces and grand civic buildings, including Versailles and the Opéra Garnier in Paris. It was particularly prized during the Louis XVI and Empire periods for use in columns, fireplaces, and tabletops, as it combined visual opulence with classical elegance.

In the 19th century, the marble retained its prestige. The use of a single block for this column, uninterrupted by joints or capitals, demonstrates the quality of the material and the artisan’s technical command. The sober cylindrical form allows the complexity of the veining to serve as the principal ornamentation, aligning with the refined neoclassical taste of the period.

The column shaft is in excellent overall condition, retaining its full height and surface polish. Some natural fissuring is visible, characteristic of Campan rubané, with no signs of structural instability. The marble’s coloration remains vibrant, with no evidence of significant fading or discoloration. There is a small central perforation at the top surface, possibly original and related to a past mounting fixture. The base and torus ring in contrasting dark marble offer an elegant and appropriate support.


Reference bibliography:

Carrière, Jean-Claude, Les Marbres des Pyrénées : Histoire et utilisation, CNRS Editions, 1994.
Grimal, Pierre, Marbres et autres pierres ornementales, Armand Colin, 1976.
Centre de Recherche sur la Pierre et le Marbre, “Marbres des Pyrénées,”
Louvre Museum Database (base MNR) and Château de Versailles inventories.