Pair of Vases

Serpentina Verde di Polcevera Marble
Rome or Genova
19th Century


H 44 x W 10 x D 10 cm
H 17 1/3 x W 4 x D 4 inch






This pair of vases presents an imposing vertical profile, each composed of an elongated amphora resting on a solid square base. The bodies are slender and tapering, with sharply defined shoulders from which rise distinctive rectangular handles that connect to the domed, finial-topped lids. The geometry of the handles introduces a modernist austerity to an otherwise classical form, reinforcing the linearity of the silhouette. The vases are mounted on stepped pedestals of matching marble, set between contrasting white -and black marble mouldings, which serve to highlight the natural richness of the stone.

Sculpted in Serpentina verde di Polcevera marble, the surfaces display a vibrant interplay of deep green, purplish-red, and black, with a high polish that enhances the intricate veining and mottling. This distinctive Ligurian stone, quarried near Genoa, was particularly appreciated in the 18th and 19th centuries for its decorative appeal and rarity. Its use here demonstrates not only aesthetic discernment but also access to a highly prized material associated with noble commissions and princely collections.

While the overall form draws upon the classical tradition of Roman amphorae, this pair is rooted firmly in the 19th-century Italian revival of antiquity, possibly linked to production centers in Rome or Genoa. These cities were at the forefront of supplying marble objets d’art to the Grand Tour market, and such vases would have been coveted by collectors for their evocation of the antique and their luxurious materiality.

The combination of elegant proportions, refined craftsmanship, and the rare marble employed suggests these vases were conceived as high-status decorative pieces, intended to be displayed prominently in a neoclassical interior or as part of a curated collection of marbles. They exemplify the period’s interest in the connoisseurship of stone, as well as the enduring influence of antiquity on the decorative arts of the 19th century.