Green Prophyry Jewlers Box
About: This diminutive casket form box is constructed of green porphyry (often referred to as serpentine), brass and red velvet lining. Likely crafted by an exceptional lapidary and/or jeweler in the late 19th or early 20th Century, Russia. The stylized curled hinge give us a clue as to its origin.
Green porphyry was mined specifically in the Ural Mountains and Southern Greece and used throughout the Greek and Roman empires in floors, mosaics, temples and decorative arts.
There are numerous varieties of porphyry with differing color and grain structures, the word coming from the mines in ancient Porphyrites, Egypt where traditional red porphyry was mined and transported to Rome. The term porphyry or porphyra in Greek translates to “purple”.
Why We Love It: It’s so freakin cute! So finely crafted and on such a small scale tells us the stone was prized and may have been lacking in quantity at the time of fabrication. This piece would be perfect for rings and small baubles.
Condition: The brass trim has a warm glow and the velvet lining is fresh and bright. The stone box shows some micro hairlines fractures likely part of the grain itself. A very nice piece.
Dims: 2.5” L x 2” W x 1.25” H
Location: Philadelphia, PA
About: This diminutive casket form box is constructed of green porphyry (often referred to as serpentine), brass and red velvet lining. Likely crafted by an exceptional lapidary and/or jeweler in the late 19th or early 20th Century, Russia. The stylized curled hinge give us a clue as to its origin.
Green porphyry was mined specifically in the Ural Mountains and Southern Greece and used throughout the Greek and Roman empires in floors, mosaics, temples and decorative arts.
There are numerous varieties of porphyry with differing color and grain structures, the word coming from the mines in ancient Porphyrites, Egypt where traditional red porphyry was mined and transported to Rome. The term porphyry or porphyra in Greek translates to “purple”.
Why We Love It: It’s so freakin cute! So finely crafted and on such a small scale tells us the stone was prized and may have been lacking in quantity at the time of fabrication. This piece would be perfect for rings and small baubles.
Condition: The brass trim has a warm glow and the velvet lining is fresh and bright. The stone box shows some micro hairlines fractures likely part of the grain itself. A very nice piece.
Dims: 2.5” L x 2” W x 1.25” H
Location: Philadelphia, PA
About: This diminutive casket form box is constructed of green porphyry (often referred to as serpentine), brass and red velvet lining. Likely crafted by an exceptional lapidary and/or jeweler in the late 19th or early 20th Century, Russia. The stylized curled hinge give us a clue as to its origin.
Green porphyry was mined specifically in the Ural Mountains and Southern Greece and used throughout the Greek and Roman empires in floors, mosaics, temples and decorative arts.
There are numerous varieties of porphyry with differing color and grain structures, the word coming from the mines in ancient Porphyrites, Egypt where traditional red porphyry was mined and transported to Rome. The term porphyry or porphyra in Greek translates to “purple”.
Why We Love It: It’s so freakin cute! So finely crafted and on such a small scale tells us the stone was prized and may have been lacking in quantity at the time of fabrication. This piece would be perfect for rings and small baubles.
Condition: The brass trim has a warm glow and the velvet lining is fresh and bright. The stone box shows some micro hairlines fractures likely part of the grain itself. A very nice piece.
Dims: 2.5” L x 2” W x 1.25” H
Location: Philadelphia, PA