"Porphyry Base"
Fragment of imperial porphyry, suitable for use as a statue base. Porphyry, a prestigious material extracted primarily in Egypt (notably at Mons Porphyrites), was prized in Roman antiquity and beyond for its hardness, rarity, and purple hue associated with imperial power. These fragments, sometimes reused or recovered over the centuries, also appear in collectors' circles from the 18th century onward, during the Grand Tour era, when fragmentary antique materials were incorporated into cabinets of curiosities or mounted as decorative objects.
Le Magazine de PROANTIC
TRÉSORS Magazine
Rivista Artiquariato