Lot 42
ANCIENT MARBLE TILE FRAGMENT INSCRIBED "POMPEI"
ITALY, C. 1ST CENTURY A. D. OR LATER
Ancient, African & Oceanic Art and Natural History
Auction: 08 July 2026 at 14:00 BST
Description
a fragment of carved and polished marble tile floor tile, engraved “POMPEI” [sp]
Dimensions
12.2cm across
Provenance
From an old Scottish estate, Inverness-shire, collection formed 19th century onwards
Footnote
The present piece is a classic example of 19th-century Grand Tour souvenir collecting, when visitors to Pompeii and other Vesuvian sites frequently retained and inscribed small fragments of archaeological material as mementos of their travels. Although its exact origin cannot be established with absolute certainty, the marble is consistent with material known from Pompeii, supporting an association with the site.