Height: 13 in (33 cm)
Width: 20¹/₈ in (51 cm)
Depth: 9¹/₂ in (24 cm)
A magnificent piece of Egyptian Imperial Porphyry.
This type of porphyry, with its distinctive purple colour, was excavated from Mons Porphrites, the Imperial quarries at Gebel Dokhan in Egypt's Red Sea Hills. From their discovery during the 1st century AD, until their closure in the 5th century, these quarries were the source of Egyptian Imperial Porphyry. The porphyry was Imperial property - in the same way that the colour purple was reserved solely for the use of Emperor - the stone was reserved for Imperial use and was one of the symbols of Imperial power.
Accordingly, pieces of Imperial porphyry are today highly coveted.