A building is more than just its bones. Places are imbued with meaning by the people who inhabit them, whether that be places of worship, a house, or a government building. Throughout history, humans have modified and decorated these architectural materials to convey beliefs about power, religion, and aesthetic beauty. Come explore the Vault’s variety of objects related to ancient and pre-modern architecture, ranging from marble bas-reliefs that may have adorned the front of imperial buildings, plastered molding, and ceramic tiles.
Curated by Christina Miles (`25)
Tiles
There were numerous ways to create and use tiles in the ancient world. In Pompeii, small, worked stone tiles called “tesserae” were fitted into mortar backings and placed on floors or walls to create mosaics. In the Islamic Golden Age, brilliantly painted and glazed tiles depicting floral motifs known as “İznik style” were common in the Ottoman Empire’s capital, Istanbul. The motifs a mosaic or tile depicted appealed to culturally specific ideas of the natural world and its beauty.
Marble
When heat and pressure are applied to limestone, it undergoes a ‘metamorphosis’ in which it recrystallizes, causing it to turn into marble. Marble is soft, allowing artisans and architects to finely sculpt it. Its value and intense quarrying process meant it was often reserved for monumental architecture in the ancient world, such as for temples or imperial buildings. Marble made up columns, bas-reliefs depicting historical events or myths, and even the building blocks for the pyramid of Giza!
Stone and Plaster
Stone and plaster, while simple in their construction, were used by people to decorate their homes in ancient times. Plaster is a mixture of clay, water, and a soft mineral such as limestone or gypsum that was applied wet on a surface and sculpted to create a design. Stone could also be molded, and also was able to be polished as seen in the pictured green stone with light inclusions.
Image from the Petra Museum
To see more architectural materials from the Institute’s Vault, feel free to browse our online JIAAW Collection or visit during our View the Vault hours each month.