Sarrancolin marble
Like in Campan, since the Middle Ages, different varieties of marble are quarried in the small town of Sarrancolin in the the High Pyrenees. These quarries reached their peak of glory in the reign of Louis XV, to such a degree that after 1692 they were considered as “royal quarries”. Sarrancolin marbles present red colored flame motifs. “Sarrancolin from the West” is a variety of marble that is quarried in the Mayenne region, where the real name is “Enjugerais Pink”. The presence of pink and red flames explains this confusion of names.
Sarrancolin marble is found in the most prestigious staterooms of Versailles. It was also used in the grand fireplace mantel for the Hercules Salon, for King Louis XV.
Bibliography :
J. Dubarry de Lasalle, Identification of marbles, Ed. H. Vial, Dourdan, 2000
J. Dubarry de Lasalle, The use of marbles, Ed. H. Vial, Dourdan, 2005
P. Julien, Marbres, From Quarries to Palaces, ed. Le Bec en l'air, Manosque, 2006
Marmi antichi, collective work, ed. De Luca, Rome, 1998
