Derbyshire Blue John Small Neoclassical Urn Shaped Vase

Period: 1700-1800

Origin: England

Medium: Wood, Blue John, Ormolu

Literature: No two pieces of Blue John are ever alike. The colours run in bands across the body of the fluorspar and range in colour from purple and dark blue to yellow, buff and off white, and their disposition is always different. Blue John was originally discovered by lead miners employed as slaves by the Romans in Britain as veins in the caverns and caves of the Derbyshire Peak District. Prized for its 'imperial' purple colouring it became valuable as a fragile semi-precious stone, which was exported to Rome.