Pair of George III Blue John Obelisks on White and Black Marble Bases, ENGLAND, late 18th Century
43 x 8.8 x 8.8 cm
17 x 3 ½ x 3 ½ in
17 x 3 ½ x 3 ½ in
7224
Provenance
Private Collection, France.
A pair of ornamental blue john obelisks on white and black marble bases. The blue john is veined distinctively with contrasting deep purple and dark yellow crystalline layers, one obelisk...
A pair of ornamental blue john obelisks on white and black marble bases. The blue john is veined distinctively with contrasting deep purple and dark yellow crystalline layers, one obelisk with restorations in the main column.
Blue John:
Blue John is a rare semi-precious stone found in only one location on Earth: Castleton in the Derbyshire Peak District in England. Also known as Derbyshire Fluorspar and previously as Derbyshire Spar or Drop, the name blue john originated in the 18th Century and derives from the French ‘bleu et jaune’ meaning ‘blue and yellow’. It is a type of fluorspar, a mineral which can present as many colours, but in this instance, is notable for its vibrant blue, purple and yellow hues. Blue John deposits form as veins in the Earth and there are fifteen distinct blue john veins originating from two mines; Treak Cliff Hill and Blue John Cavern. The appearance of each vein is dependent its geographical location in the rock. The blue john used in these obelisks is likely to be from Twelve Vein or Treak Cliff Blue Vein due to the sharp contrast between its light and dark layers.
The black marble used in the bases is likely Ashford black marble, which is mined at Ashford-in-the-Water, situated only five miles away from the blue john caverns. Ashford black marble became popular in the 18th century, largely due to the patronage of the Dukes of Devonshire, who featured it prominently in the redecoration of the palatial Chatsworth House.
The white stone used in the base is an exceptionally pure colour without veining. It is likely mined from the Greek Island of Thassos marble. Often imported to Italy and sold as Carrara marble, Thassos marble is noted for its pure white colour and has been used in the decorative arts since antiquity. However, if the designer intended to solely use British materials alone, then it is likely to be English Limestone, which was often used a substitute for foreign white marble in the 18th Century.
The History of Blue John:
There are many legends and stories surrounding blue john and its origins. It is speculated to have been discovered by the Romans who named it murrhine. Pliny The Elder marvelled at murrhine’s rich purple colour and the fact that it was soft enough to carve into drinking vessels. There is evidence that ancient blue john was highly valued and was transported great distances across the empire, with two blue john cups having been found in Roman graves along the Turkish Syrian border.
Like many other aspects of Roman civilization in Britain, blue john mining lost was during the dark ages. No mention of it is found until the latter half of eighteenth century, when it was made popular by Matthew Boulton who used it heavily in his ornamental design. His world-famous Soho Manufactory where his creations were produced was situated in the Midlands, the same region as the blue john mines. Boulton favoured blue john as a mount for his ormolu ware and often used the gemstone to craft exquisite vases, cassolettes, candelabras and urns.
Whilst blue john mining still exists in Derbyshire, it is very rare to see large pieces such as these obelisks being produced and presently it is mainly used in small amounts to be fashioned in jewellery.
Obelisks:
Obelisks are tapered four-sided monoliths with pyramidal tops and were first created by the Ancient Egyptians, who built them in pairs them to adorn the entrances of temples. They were called tekhenu, meaning ‘to pierce the sky’ and were symbols of the sun god Ra. Following the Battle of Alexandria in 30 B.C, the Romans looted large swathes of Egypt and around half of all obelisks were taken to Rome with the most famous of these is the Vatican Obelisk, which has stood for over two millennia and never fallen. Its transportation and arrival were recorded as momentous events in Ancient Rome.
Obelisks became popular as symbols of antiquity during the neoclassical era of 18th and 19th Century Europe. Many large obelisks were erected as monuments, and smaller designs, such as these pair, became fashionable forms of ornamentation in wealthy homes and palaces.
Blue John:
Blue John is a rare semi-precious stone found in only one location on Earth: Castleton in the Derbyshire Peak District in England. Also known as Derbyshire Fluorspar and previously as Derbyshire Spar or Drop, the name blue john originated in the 18th Century and derives from the French ‘bleu et jaune’ meaning ‘blue and yellow’. It is a type of fluorspar, a mineral which can present as many colours, but in this instance, is notable for its vibrant blue, purple and yellow hues. Blue John deposits form as veins in the Earth and there are fifteen distinct blue john veins originating from two mines; Treak Cliff Hill and Blue John Cavern. The appearance of each vein is dependent its geographical location in the rock. The blue john used in these obelisks is likely to be from Twelve Vein or Treak Cliff Blue Vein due to the sharp contrast between its light and dark layers.
The black marble used in the bases is likely Ashford black marble, which is mined at Ashford-in-the-Water, situated only five miles away from the blue john caverns. Ashford black marble became popular in the 18th century, largely due to the patronage of the Dukes of Devonshire, who featured it prominently in the redecoration of the palatial Chatsworth House.
The white stone used in the base is an exceptionally pure colour without veining. It is likely mined from the Greek Island of Thassos marble. Often imported to Italy and sold as Carrara marble, Thassos marble is noted for its pure white colour and has been used in the decorative arts since antiquity. However, if the designer intended to solely use British materials alone, then it is likely to be English Limestone, which was often used a substitute for foreign white marble in the 18th Century.
The History of Blue John:
There are many legends and stories surrounding blue john and its origins. It is speculated to have been discovered by the Romans who named it murrhine. Pliny The Elder marvelled at murrhine’s rich purple colour and the fact that it was soft enough to carve into drinking vessels. There is evidence that ancient blue john was highly valued and was transported great distances across the empire, with two blue john cups having been found in Roman graves along the Turkish Syrian border.
Like many other aspects of Roman civilization in Britain, blue john mining lost was during the dark ages. No mention of it is found until the latter half of eighteenth century, when it was made popular by Matthew Boulton who used it heavily in his ornamental design. His world-famous Soho Manufactory where his creations were produced was situated in the Midlands, the same region as the blue john mines. Boulton favoured blue john as a mount for his ormolu ware and often used the gemstone to craft exquisite vases, cassolettes, candelabras and urns.
Whilst blue john mining still exists in Derbyshire, it is very rare to see large pieces such as these obelisks being produced and presently it is mainly used in small amounts to be fashioned in jewellery.
Obelisks:
Obelisks are tapered four-sided monoliths with pyramidal tops and were first created by the Ancient Egyptians, who built them in pairs them to adorn the entrances of temples. They were called tekhenu, meaning ‘to pierce the sky’ and were symbols of the sun god Ra. Following the Battle of Alexandria in 30 B.C, the Romans looted large swathes of Egypt and around half of all obelisks were taken to Rome with the most famous of these is the Vatican Obelisk, which has stood for over two millennia and never fallen. Its transportation and arrival were recorded as momentous events in Ancient Rome.
Obelisks became popular as symbols of antiquity during the neoclassical era of 18th and 19th Century Europe. Many large obelisks were erected as monuments, and smaller designs, such as these pair, became fashionable forms of ornamentation in wealthy homes and palaces.
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