19th Century Scagliola Column on Square Base

• Scagliola - A process used in architecture, and manufacture of objects, where various colours of marble chips were embedded into a cement mix, which was usually white, in imitation of marble. Usually there was no pattern followed; the chips were embedded randomly unlike pietra dura which as well as incorporating semi precious stones, was usually laid out in a geometric or naturalistic pattern.
  
  The process had been known since Roman times but was revived in Italy in the 17th century. Scagliola was incorporated into the interior design of some important English houses in the early 18th century and Italian crafsmen were brought over to install the material.
  
  Scagliola was also used to make table tops, columns, pedestals and busts.
• Column - An architectural feature sometimes used for decorative effect and sometimes as part of the supporting construction. Columns should generally taper slightly towards the top. They may be plain or decorated with carving, fluting or reeding. Columns may be fully rounded or, more commonly, half-rounded and attached with glue, screws or pins to the outer stiles of doors, or the facing uprights on cabinets and bureaux.

This item has been included into following indexes:

• pedestals and columns, material - marble and stone 255