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
[16th 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
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. October 2023.
Entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.
V.2.i Pompeii. December 2023.
Looking south through entrance doorway. Photo
courtesy of Miriam Colomer.
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.
Looking north through entrance doorway onto Vicolo delle Nozze
d’Argento.
Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.
V.2.i Pompeii.
October 2023. Looking south from entrance corridor. Photo courtesy of
Klaus Heese.
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. 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.
J68f1598
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.
J59f0443
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. 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. 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. 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.
Room 1, south end of impluvium, with puteal and stop cocks with pipe, on
right. 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. 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. 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).
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Part 10 Part 11 Plan