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Histories of Northamptonshire
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Mediterranean marble used as decorative inlays on luxurious Roman furniture

3rd century Roman and Early Medieval

These marble pieces were excavated at the Roman villa at Piddington, from a third or fourth century rubbish heap.

pieces of decorative marble from Piddington Roman villa © UNAS
Mediterranean marble used as decorative inlays on Roman furniture
map showing origin of marble pieces © UNAS
Piddington - map of marble origin locations

They are part of a floral design, within a border, with flowers, stems and leaves.  The individual marble pieces come from several countries, such as Turkey (central Turkey and the coast), the Aegean islands, mainland Greece and Italy.  The porphyry came from Egypt, where there were just two quarries for this purple marble, under the control of the Emperor.  They probably formed part of a piece of furniture, either imported or made at a specialist workshop.  Perhaps it was a fine table in one of the main rooms of the villa. This method of inlaying carefully shaped and polished marble to form a pattern or picture, is known as opus sectile.

These delightful fragments raise so many questions, about trade in the Roman world, the skills of specialist craftsmen and the wealth of villa owners.

They are on display at Piddington Roman Villa Museum.

Piddington Roman Villa
Contributed by Piddington Roman Villa Museum

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