V.2.i Pompeii. Casa delle Nozze d’Argento or House of the Silver Wedding

or Domus L. Albucius Celsus.

Excavated between 1891 and 1908.

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The House of the Silver Wedding – Reopened 16th July 2023 at the conclusion of restoration.

The house of the Silver Wedding took its modern name from the celebration of the silver wedding of the Italian royals, Umberto and Margherita of Savoy, in 1893.

The Domus was discovered and excavated between 1891 and 1893 under the direction of the architect Michele Ruggiero, then Director of the Excavations, and he was succeeded, until 1908, by Giulio De Petra, Ettore Pais and Antonio Sogliano. The columns of the Corinthian atrium had partly fallen, the main walls in conditions of instability or collapsed as well; it was therefore necessary to extensively reintegrate the walls with pieces of masonry imitating the ancient one, raising the same walls and columns (starting from 1 July 1892) until reaching the height useful for laying the roof structures.

The restoration interventions after the Second World War saw the widespread use of heavy and dangerous reinforced concrete structures hinged on the ancient structures.

The restoration site that is ending today [16^th July 2023] - launched in 2019 on planning from funds of the Great Pompeii Project and construction with PON funds "Culture and Development" ERDF 2014-2020 - had therefore set itself the first task of removing these structures, by then close to the collapse at the start of the construction site, replacing them with new wooden structures, not only closer to the original ones but above all lighter than those in reinforced concrete and technologically innovative due to the use of a material such as micro-laminated beech accompanied, for the structures of the floors and false ceilings, from laminated fir wood.

At the end of the construction site, by the "Cura del Verde" area it was possible to regenerate the three large green areas with the formation of three aesthetic and utilitarian gardens based on archaeological data and finds and on an interpretation of the proportions of the spaces of the domus as well as on the internal perspective visual axes.

La Casa delle Nozze d’Argento – Riapre 16 Luglio 2023 a conclusione dei restauri

La casa delle Nozze d’Argento prese il suo nome moderno dalla celebrazione delle nozze d'argento dei Reali d’Italia, Umberto e Margherita di Savoia, nel 1893.

La Domus venne scoperta e scavata tra il 1891 e il 1893 sotto la direzione dell’architetto Michele Ruggero, allora Direttore degli Scavi, e a questi succedettero, fino al 1908, Giulio De Petra, Ettore Pais e Antonio Sogliano.

Le colonne dell'atrio corinzio erano in parte cadute, i muri principali in condizioni di instabilità o crollati anch’essi; fu dunque necessario reintegrare estesamente le pareti con brani di muratura imitante l'antica, rialzando le stesse murature e le colonne (a partire dal 1° luglio 1892) sino a raggiungere la quota utile alla posa delle strutture di copertura.

Gli interventi di restauro del Secondo Dopoguerra videro l’utilizzo diffuso di pesanti e pericolose strutture di calcestruzzo armato incardinate sulle strutture antiche.

Il cantiere di restauro che oggi si conclude -  avviato nel 2019 su progettazione da fondi del Grande Progetto Pompei e realizzazione su fondi PON “Cultura e Sviluppo “ FESR 2014-2020 -  si è posto pertanto come primo compito quello di rimuovere tali strutture, ormai prossime al crollo all’avvio del cantiere, sostituendole con nuove strutture in legno, non solo più vicine a quelle  originarie ma soprattutto più leggere di quelle in calcestruzzo armato e tecnologicamente innovative per l’uso di un materiale come il legno di faggio microlamellare accompagnato, per le strutture di solai e controsoffitti, da legno di abete lamellare.

A conclusione del cantiere, da parte dell’Area “Cura del Verde” è stato possibile rigenerare le tre ampie aree verdi con la formazione di tre giardini estetici ed utilitaristici basati sui dati e reperti archeologici e su un’interpretazione delle proporzioni degli spazi della domus oltre che sugli assi visuali prospettici interni.

See PAP: La casa delle Nozze d'Argento – Riapre 16 luglio 2023 a conclusione dei restauri

V.2.i Pompeii. December 2023.

Looking east to entrance doorway on south side of Vicolo delle Nozze d’Argento. Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

V.2.i Pompeii. October 2023. Looking east to entrance doorway on Vicolo delle Nozze d’Argento. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

V.2.i Pompeii. December 2005. Entrance on Vicolo delle Nozze d’Argento. 

V.2.i Pompeii. December 2023.

Looking south through entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

V.2.i Pompeii. November 2024.

Looking south along entrance corridor/fauces towards atrium with compluvium. Photo courtesy of Annette Haug.

V.2.i Pompeii. May 2005. Looking south through entrance towards atrium with compluvium.

This house was named after the 25th wedding anniversary of King Umberto I of Italy, and Queen Margherita and is considered one of the most splendid private houses in the city.

This “domus” was owned by L. Albucius Celsus, who belonged to an ancient Pompeian family that were very active in politics.

There were numerous electoral inscriptions found near to the house.

V.2.i Pompeii.  October 2023.

Looking north through entrance doorway onto Vicolo delle Nozze d’Argento. 

Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

V.2.i Pompeii. November 2024.

Looking south from entrance corridor across atrium. Photo courtesy of Annette Haug.

V.2.i Pompeii.  October 2023. Looking south from entrance corridor. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

V.2.i Pompeii. December 2023.

Looking south-east across atrium. Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

V.2.i Pompeii. c.1908-1909. Looking south-east across atrium from entrance corridor.

According to Sogliano –

“It is true that since 1893 the capitals and sections of the four columns of the tetrastyle atrium of this house, which are amongst the tallest found in Pompeii, measuring 7.12m, were collected and relocated in situ; but from that time to 1907 it was necessary to suspend any further excavation in this part of the ancient city, since the adjoining land had not yet returned to the possession of the Administration.

Having restored those lands to us, I set my hand to the excavation of the noble house and proceeded at the same time to restore the peristyle, the alae, and the oecus corinthium.

I mentioned this in my past report, promising that I would redo the roof of the great tablinum and proceed to restore the majestic tetrastyle atrium.”

See Sogliano, A., 1909. Dei lavori eseguiti in Pompei dal i Luglio 1908 a tutto Giugno 1909. Napoli: d’Auria, (p.15/16, fig.2).

V.2.i Pompeii. Description of excavation by Sogliano.

See Sogliano, A., 1909. Dei lavori eseguiti in Pompei dal i Luglio 1908 a tutto Giugno 1909. Napoli: d’Auria, p. 15.

V.2.i Pompeii. Description of excavation by Sogliano.

See Sogliano, A., 1909. Dei lavori eseguiti in Pompei dal i Luglio 1908 a tutto Giugno 1909. Napoli: d’Auria, p. 16.

V.2.i Pompeii. December 2023.

Looking towards east side of atrium at north end of impluvium.

Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

December 2023.

Room 1, atrium, detail of base of column in north-east corner of impluvium.

Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

V.2.i Pompeii. December 2023.

Room 1, detail of column in south-east corner of atrium.

Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

V.2.i Pompeii. March 2009. Room 1, atrium. Compluvium, originally fitted with Grondaia or water spouts (see picture below).

V.2.i Pompeii. October 2023. Grondaia or water-spout displayed on west wall of tablinum 7. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

Originally would have been set around the four sides of the compluvium, above the impluvium in the atrium. 

The rainwater would have been channelled to pour through the open mouth of the lion into the impluvium below.

V.2.i Pompeii. December 2007. Grondaia or water-spout displayed on west wall of tablinum 7.

V.2.i Pompeii. November 2024.

Room 1, atrium and impluvium looking south towards tablinum and peristyle. Photo courtesy of Annette Haug.

V.2.i Pompeii. March 2023.

Room 1, atrium and impluvium looking south towards tablinum and peristyle, with restored compluvium above. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

V.2.i Pompeii. December 2007. Room 1, atrium and impluvium looking towards tablinum and peristyle.

V.2.i Pompeii. Old postcard postmarked 1902. Looking south-east across atrium during excavation. Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.

V.2.i Pompeii. March 2023. Room 1, looking north-west across impluvium in atrium. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

V.2.i Pompeii. October 2023. Room 1, looking north across impluvium in atrium towards entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

V.2.i Pompeii. March 2023.

Room 1, looking north across atrium with compluvium. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

V.2.i Pompeii. 1968.

Room 1, looking north across atrium with compluvium. Photo by Stanley A. Jashemski.

Source: The Wilhelmina and Stanley A. Jashemski archive in the University of Maryland Library, Special Collections (See collection page) and made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial License v.4. See Licence and use details.

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V.2.i Pompeii. c.1892. Looking north across atrium. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

V.2.i Pompeii. Looking south-east across atrium, with peristyle excavated.

Photograph No. 117, by Sommer, described as “Pompei – Ultimi Scavi”.  Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

V.2.i Pompeii. 1959. Room 1, atrium. Compluvium showing grondaie and antefixes. Photo by Stanley A. Jashemski.

Source: The Wilhelmina and Stanley A. Jashemski archive in the University of Maryland Library, Special Collections (See collection page) and made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial License v.4. See Licence and use details.

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V.2.i Pompeii. March 2023. Room 1, atrium.

Looking north-east across impluvium with compluvium above. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

V.2.i Pompeii. December 2023. Room 1, north-east corner of impluvium in atrium. Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

V.2.i Pompeii. November 2024.

Room 1, detail from north end of impluvium in atrium. Photo courtesy of Annette Haug.

V.2.i Pompeii.  October 2023. Room 1, detail from north end of impluvium in atrium. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

V.2.i Pompeii. March 2023. Detail of capital on top of column at side of impluvium in atrium. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

V.2.i Pompeii. December 2023.

Capital on top of column. Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

V.2.i Pompeii. December 2023.

Capital on top of column at side of impluvium in atrium.

Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

V.2.i Pompeii. December 2023. Looking south across impluvium in atrium. Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

V.2.i Pompeii. November 2024.

Room 1, looking south towards impluvium in atrium. Photo courtesy of Annette Haug.

V.2.i Pompeii.  October 2023. Room 1, looking south across impluvium in atrium. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

V.2.i Pompeii. March 2023. Room 1, atrium, looking south-east across south end of impluvium. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

V.2.i Pompeii. November 2024.

Room 1, atrium, looking south-west across south end of impluvium. Photo courtesy of Annette Haug.

V.2.i Pompeii. March 2023. Room 1, atrium, south end of impluvium.

Looking west towards travertine puteal, rectangular marble base and stone basin on a stand. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

V.2.i Pompeii. August 2023. Room 1, atrium, south end of impluvium.

Looking east towards stone basin on stand, rectangular marble base and travertine puteal. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

V.2.i Pompeii. August 2023.

Room 1, south end of impluvium, with puteal and stop cocks with pipe, on right. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

V.2.i Pompeii. August 2023. Room 1, south end of impluvium, stop cocks with pipes. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

V.2.i Pompeii. August 2023. Room 1, south end of impluvium, detail of stop cocks and pipes. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

V.2.i Pompeii. December 2023.

Room 1, looking north from south end of impluvium. Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

V.2.i Pompeii. December 2023.

Room 1, looking north across atrium. Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

V.2.i Pompeii. November 2024.

Room 1, south end of impluvium in atrium, detail of basin on a stand. Photo courtesy of Annette Haug.

V.2.i Pompeii.  October 2023.

Room 1, south end of impluvium in atrium, detail of basin on a stand. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

V.2.i Pompeii. March 2023.

Room 1, atrium, south end of impluvium, detail of basin on a stand. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

V.2.i Pompeii. March 2023.

Room 1, atrium, south end of impluvium, detail of travertine puteal. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

V.2.i Pompeii.  October 2023.

Room 1, detail of travertine puteal at south end of impluvium. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

V.2.i Pompeii. March 2023. Room 1, atrium, looking north-east across impluvium from south end. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

V.2.i Pompeii. August 2023. Room 1, atrium, looking north-west across impluvium from south end. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

V.2.i Pompeii. December 2007. Room 1, atrium, south end of impluvium. 

Looking east towards stone basin on a stand with a bronze waterspout next to a rectangular marble base and a travertine puteal.

V.2.i Pompeii. December 2023. Looking east from west side of atrium. Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

V.2.i Pompeii. November 2024. Looking south along east side of atrium. Photo courtesy of Annette Haug.

V.2.i Pompeii. May 2005. Room 1, atrium. East side showing windows of rooms on upper floor.

V.2.i Pompeii. May 2018. Room 1, atrium. East side showing staircase and windows of rooms on upper floor.

V.2.i Pompeii. March 2023.

Room 1, looking south-east across atrium towards tablinum, on right. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

V.2.i Pompeii.  May 2005. Room 1, atrium, looking south across to tablinum.

V.2.i Pompeii. 1895. Watercolour by Luigi Bazzani. Room 1, atrium.

Looking south-east across impluvium in atrium towards tablinum, from west side.

Photo © Victoria and Albert Museum, inventory number E6281-1910 (ex.669-1899).

Part 2      Part 3      Part 4      Part 5      Part 6      Part 7      Part 8      Part 9      Part 10      Part 11      Plan