Arabescato

Quarried since Antiquity Arabescato marble comes from Serravezza Lucca, the Carrara region in Italie.

It is a white cristallin marble its elements underlined by stylilites and marked by green and black minerals.

This marble was much used in decorative pieces, furniture and fireplace mantels. It was used on the walls of the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles, in the frames inlayed with panels of Campan grand mélange, and Sarrancolin marble on the cornice and base boards.

Another remarkable example is in the large altar of Saint Vincent church in the monastary of Escaladieu in Bagnères-de-Bigorre, where the quality of the sculpture of the Arabescaoto is astonishing and is also inlayed with different marbles (Breche from Sicily in the cartouche, Brocatelle from Sienna, Levanto)

• Photo 1 : sample of Arabescato marble.
• Photo 2 : detail of the altar of Saint Vincent church in the monastary of Escaladieu in Bagnères-de-Bigorre, Hautes-Pyrénnées.