146 THE MARBLES OP ITALY. 



fragments of different rocks set in a calcareous base. They are found in 

 great variety, many of them being extremely beautiful, as, for instance, 

 the brilliantly-coloured breccia of Terra di Lavoro, the superb affricano 

 of Seravezza, that of Rondone (Seravezza), that of Finocchioso (Carrara), 

 the Mischi or mixed marbles of Seravezza and Massa, and the Mandor- 

 lato and affricano of Vicentin. 



The breccias command a very high price, on account of the vivacity 

 of their tints, and the delicacy and harmony of their variegations and 

 shading ; in addition to which they are extremely durable, from the 

 hardness of the fragments, and the homogeneous nature of the cementing 

 material. 



In a commercial classification the breccias form the class of variega- 

 ted or spotted marbles, and it is under that head that they will be 

 noticed. The marbles, properly so called, fall into the two principal 

 divisions of white and coloured marbles. 



White Marbles. — This is the most important class, on account of 

 the extensive commerce of which it is the object. There are three com- 

 mercial divisions ; the first of which is exclusively -employed for fine 

 sculpture, and is distinguished as statuary marble ; the second is also 

 used for sculpture and higher class of architectural ornamentation ; it 

 includes the clear white marbles, marmo hianco chiaro, and the common 

 white quality ; the third includes all the other varieties, which are often 

 excellent, but are generally inferior to the foregoing, either in tint or 

 structure, or are veined or spotted ; they are used for making chimney- 

 pieces, tables, paper-weights, &c, and may be called furniture marbles. 



These three classes are susceptible of further sub-division, according 

 to well-known types, around which all the varieties and sub-varieties 

 known in commerce may be arranged. 



Statuary Marbles. — These are the most beautiful of the white 

 marbles, and it will be convenient to divide them into statuary marbles 

 proper, and those of lamellar structure, having for type the marble of 

 Paros. The most valuable varieties are those of a fine white colour, 

 with a slightly bluish tint, having a certain amount of transpa- 

 rency, and a perfectly homogeneous lamellar structure, so that the un- 

 equal reflection from different sized lamellse shall not produce a disagree- 

 able effect. The Venere dei Medici and the Farnese Vase are examples 

 of the use of the very highest class of material. The varieties uniting 

 all the above characters are of a very high price ; among them, are the 

 marbles of the Island of Elba, of Campiglia, and more especially those 

 of Monte Rombolo, which are in nowise inferior to their Greek type. 



The friability of some marbles, analogous to that of several kinds 

 of dolomites, is a consequence of their lamellar structure, a fact 

 that should make the artist hesitate in choosing blocks of this character, 

 as they offer but little resistance to the chisel, and are too fragile to be 

 used for ornaments and cornices. 



The statuary marbles proper are divided into several qualities ; those 



