STONE-WORKING IN THE ROMAN PERIOD A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF DOCUMENTARY SOURCES

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1 STONE-WORKING IN THE ROMAN PERIOD A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF DOCUMENTARY SOURCES Simon Barker University of Oxford & Ben Russell British School at Rome

2 Pegoretti, G. ( ). Manuale pratico per l'estimazione dei lavori architettonici, stradali, idraulici e di fortificazione per uso degli ingegneri ed architetti. 2 nd edn., 2 volumes (Milan: Domenico Salvi).

3 Two types of stone-working machine, from Renwick, W. G. (1909). Marble and Marble Working (New York)

4 DeLaine, J. (1997). The Baths of Caracalla: a Study in the Design, Construction, and Economics of Large-Scale Building Projects in Imperial Rome. JRA Supplementary Series, 25 (Portsmouth, RI: JRA). Barresi, P. (2003). Province dell'asia Minore: costo dei marmi, architettura pubblica e committenza. Studia Archaeologica, 125 (Rome: 'L'Erma' di Bretschneider). Caré, A. (2005). L'ornato architettonico della Basilica di Massenzio. Studia Archaeologia, 138 (Rome: 'L'Erma' di Bretschneider).

Rome. JRA Supplementary Series, 25 (Portsmouth, RI: JRA). Barresi, P. (2003).

5 Ponza di San Martino, L. (1841). Prontuario di stima ad uso degli ingegneri e degli architetti nella direzione de' lavori pubblici (Turin: Tipgrafia Mussano). Ricci, A. (1895). Manuale del marmista. 2 nd edn. (1st edn. 1877) (Milan: Ulrico Hoepli). Salmojraghi, F. (1892). Materiali naturali da costruzione (Milan: Ulrico Hoepli).

lavori pubblici (Turin: Tipgrafia Mussano). Ricci, A. (1895). Manuale del marmista.

6 Morisot, J. M. ( ). Tableaux détaillés des prix de tous les ouvrages de bâtiment. 2 nd edn. (1 st edn. 1814) (Paris: Nouzou). Claudel, J. and L. Laroque (1863). Pratiqe de l'art de construire. 3 rd edn. (1 st edn. 1850) (Paris: Dunod). Rondelet, J.-B. (1867). Traité théorique et pratique de l'art de bâtir. 3 rd edn. (1st edn. 1802) (Paris: Firmin Didot).

Pratiqe de l'art de construire. 3 rd edn. (1 st edn. 1850) (Paris: Dunod). Rondelet, J.-B.

7 Elsam, R. (1826). The Practical Builder's Perpetual Price-Book: Elucidating the Principles of Ascertaining the Correct Average Value of the Different Artificer's Works Usually Employed in Building (London: T. Kelly). Skyring, W. H. (1831). Skyring's Builders' Prices, Calculated from the Prime Cost of Materials and Labour intended to do Justice to Employers, Master Builders, & Workmen. 21st edn. (London: W. H. Skyring).

Average Value of the Different Artificer's Works Usually Employed in Building (London: T. Kelly).

8 Fletcher, B. (1877). Quantities: A Text-Book for Surveyors in Tabulated Form (London: Batsford). Hurst, J. T. (1903). A Handbook of Formulae, Tables and Memoranda for Architectural Surveyors and Others Engaged in Building. 15th edn. (London: E. & F. N. Spon). Rea, J. T. (1902). How to Estimate, being the analysis of builders' prices (London: Batsford).

A Handbook of Formulae, Tables and Memoranda for Architectural Surveyors and Others

9 The main stages of stone-working, after Pegoretti: QUARRY 1: Quarrying 2: Rough squaring at the quarry 3: Roughing-out (sbozzatura grossolana) or sawing (segatura) 4: Preparatory dressing (apparecchio o taglio rustico) with the point chisel SITE / WORKSHOP 5: Tooth chisel and bush hammer work (martellinatura o gradinatura grossolana) 6: Flat chisel work (cesellatura) 7: Fine tooth chisel work (gradinatura mezzana o fina) 8: Rubbing (orsatura) 9: Polishing (pulimento a lucido)

chisel SITE / WORKSHOP 5: Tooth chisel and bush hammer work (martellinatura o gradinatura grossolana) 6: Flat chisel

10 The main phases of work on stone, according to the other authors: 1: Splitting or sawing (divisione) 2: Roughing-out (sbozzo) 3: Finishing (compimento) a. Working with chisels: - Distinguished by surface type: Flat or plain Curved Moulded - And level of finish: Rough (rustica): worked with tooth chisel Smooth (liscia): worked with fine tooth chisel or flat chisel b. Polishing

Working with chisels: - Distinguished by surface type: Flat or plain Curved Moulded - And

11 A. B. C. - Block: m; volume = 3.84 m³ - Column shaft: 6.00 m long with a lower diameter of 0.80 m; volume = 3.00 m³ Pegoretti: to rough-out 1m³ of hard white marble = 300 man-hours Using volume of A = 1152 man-hours = 5760 Diocletianic denarii (Price Edict) Using volume of material removed at B (0.84 m³) = 294 man-hours = 1470 denarii

00 m³ Pegoretti: to rough-out 1m³ of hard white marble = 300 man-hours Using volume of

15 The carving of a monolithic column shaft from a squared block: - height = 6.00 m - lower diameter = 0.80 m - volume = 3.00 m³ - surface area of sides = m² Pegoretti (for medium limestone): 1. Roughing-out: (m³) = Dressing: 4.8 ( /0.8) = (m²) = Smoothing with the tooth chisel: (m²) = British sources (for Portland): 1. Plain work on two sides of block: (m²) = Circular sunk work to sides: (m²) = Total = man-hours Total = man-hours

8 (2 + 0.5/0.8) = 12.60 15.08 (m²) = 190.01 3. Smoothing with the tooth chisel: 8 15.08 (m²) = 120.64 British sources (for Portland): 1.

16 Radcliffe Camera, Oxford Accounts: Corinthian capital, 1 m high, in Burford stone: equivalent to 1200 man-hours work [n.b.: inclusive of 10-20% for profit & 10-20% for incidental expenses; subtracting 30% from this total leaves 840 man-hours, 40% leaves 720 man-hours] Pegoretti: For finishing: man-hours

: inclusive of 10-20% for profit & 10-20% for incidental expenses; subtracting

17 University of Virginia, Charlottesville Thomas Appleton: Corinthian capital, 0.9 m high, in Carrara: 9 months, or 2350 man-hours Pegoretti: - For quarrying, squaring and finishing in medium white marble: man-hours - For quarrying, squaring and finishing in hard white marble: man-hours

9 m high, in Carrara: 9 months, or 2350 man-hours Pegoretti: - For quarrying,

19 Stoa of Attalos: columns Height = 5.22 m Lower diameter = 0.70 m Burford (1969, 246): - Columns shafts from quarry-face to cylinder = man-days. - To flute: 62 days for a team of four. Pegoretti, for a medium white marble: 1. To quarry = To square at quarry = To rough-out = To dress = To smooth the surface with tooth chisel = To flute = To smooth the rest of the surface with the fine tooth chisel = Total = man-hours or man-days Stages 1-5: man-hours or man-days Stages 2-5: man-hours or man-days

To rough-out = 164.27 4. To dress = 249.22 5. To smooth the surface with tooth chisel = 153.03 6. To flute = 265.23 7.

21 Stoa of Attalos: Ionic capitals Mauzy (2006, 51): - 45 man-days to produce an Ionic capital suitable for a column 5.22 m in height Pegoretti, for a medium white marble: - To finish a similarly sized capital = man-hours, equivalent to 47 man-days (if 10 hour) or 56 man-days (if 8 hour)

22 Cliveden Conservation Restoration of a Corinthian capital in Bath stone on Vanbrugh s stone portico façade at Stowe, c. 1720: - To cut out damaged section: 48 man-hours - To work new section: 160 man-hours - To insert and fix new section: 40 man-hours

23 Masons sketches showing working stages Masons estimates: - Marble: / Limestone: Pegoretti: - Marble: / Limestone:

Marble Architectural Awards 2004. The Jury: Chairman: Members:

MARBLE ARCHITECTURAL AWARDS 2004 La Giuria: The Jury: Presidente della Giuria: Ing. Luigi Danesi Ex-Presidente di IMM Carrara SpA Chairman: Ing. Luigi Danesi Past President of IMM Carrara SpA Membri della