Short Description
The NHM owns one of the largest collections of building and decorative stones in Europa (currently 35,000 objects, most of them historic). The collection is used by architects, stonemasons and conservators.
In a wall showcase in Hall I, several cut and polished, natural and synthetic materials are on display: granites, diorites, quartz porphyries, serpentinites, limestones, marble, stucco, tiles, terracotta and terrazzo.
Contact Person
Dr. Lidia Pittarello
Research Services
Identification and characterization of building and decorative stones on request, depending on various conditions.
Historical research.
Methods & Expertise for Research Infrastructure
The employees of the department of mineralogy and petrography have great experience in the identification of building and decorative stones, using a large variety of analytical methods. They also have special expertise in the historical aspects of the objects in the building and decorative stone collection.
Allocation to research infrastructure
Mineralogisch-Petrographische Abteilung, Naturhistorisches Museum Wien