Kolyvan vase

The unique green jasper Kolyvan Vase evokes associations with the interiors of rich Roman villas. It is one of the finest creations of Russian stone-cutters, remarkable for its size and beauty of form. The vase that weighs almost 19 tons and is 2.57 m (8.5 ft) high was produced at the Kolyvan lapidary works (Altai) in 1843. The bowl (5.04 x 3.22 m) was made of a great slab of greenish jasper found at the foot of Revnev Mountain, the stem was composed of three monolithic stones and one more huge stone was used as the base. The stone-cutters spent almost fourteen years working on the vase designed by Avraam Melnikov and in 1851, it was installed in the hall while the New Hermitage was still being built. The State Hermitage Museum, St.Petersburg. Photo by Valery Zubarov.