A Substantial and Weighty Ancient Porphyry Slab / Lid

A Substantial and Weighty Ancient Porphyry Slab, Possibly Serving as a Lid (?) Pavement (?) or Sealing a Tomb
Exhibits a rectangular form
Its surface is adorned with the remnants of ancient polishing, indicating a period of extreme refinement
Evidence of previous cutting marks and wear is also discernible
The slab boasts a vibrant colour and a distinctive patina
Roman Empire, Italy / Egypt

Ancient: 100BC to 100AD

Size: 65cm high, 54cm wide, 11cm deep (max) - 25¾ ins high, 21¼ ins wide, 4¼ ins deep (max)

100 BC - 100 AD
Romano Egyptian Egypt
Imperial Porphyry Porphyry
65 x 54 x 11 cm (25 ⁵/₈ x 21 ¹/₄ x 4 ³/₈ inches)

The ancient Romans coveted porphyry, a hard purple-coloured volcanic rock peppered with white crystals of feldspar, and the Emperors Nero, Trajan and Hadrian restricted it to Imperial use. The Egyptian quarries known as ‘Mons Porphyrites’ were opened in the 1st century AD and worked for four hundred years. Located in the eastern desert at Gebel Dokhan they were worked extensibvely by the Emperors, Nero, Trajan and Hadrian. The Emperors reserved the colour purple for their own use and so porphyry and the Egyptian quarries became their exclusive Roman Imperial property.

Provenance:
Ex Private UK collection

A Substantial and Weighty Ancient Porphyry Slab / Lid