Nonpareil marble 2, 1849

This example of a nonpareil marble appears as the siding papers of a copy of Hugh miller's Footprints of the creator: or, the Asterolepis of Stromness. This particular example is executed in black, red, blue, and a dull ash blue.

The surprisingly dull colours of this marble may have to do with it's content. The book is an example of creationist literature, and due to it's religious aspect, a more sombre marbled paper would be appropriate. To quote Charles Woolnough, in his Whole art of marbling:

 

"For instance, a brown nonpareil, and a black and brown combined, have been largely patronized by works of divinity"

 

Woolnough then goes on to add that red nonpareils* were used for military works, and green nonpareils for floral works.

 

* Perhaps he means nonpareils done in only red and white ?