LATE 18TH CENTURY/EARLY 19TH CENTURY

Nestled amidst the rolling hills of Cheshire, Lyme Park stands as a testament to centuries of architectural refinement and aristocratic heritage. Originally a medieval hunting lodge, the estate was transformed under the stewardship of the distinguished Legh family, who held Lyme for over six centuries. Their influence is elegantly inscribed in the fabric of the house, from its Elizabethan heart to the later Palladian and Baroque embellishments that define its striking façade. A family of military distinction and political standing, the Leghs shaped Lyme not only as a residence but as a statement of status and taste.
The present green porphyry vase speaks to this heritage – the use of serpentine porphyry (porfido serpentino antico) carries associations of imperial power and refined taste. Quarried primarily in the eastern Mediterranean, this rare and richly variegated stone was favoured by the Romans, who incorporated it into the grandest of architectural and decorative schemes. Throughout the Renaissance, Baroque and into the 19^th century, the fascination with the stone continued, its rich history and ancient association elevating green porphyry to a symbol of enduring power.