[It.] VERD-ANTIQUE 1.
1753. Chambers Cycl., Suppl., s.v. Marble, Carystium Marmor ; the Italian antiquaries particularly mean this, by a name also in use among us, and prostituted to every other species of green marble, the verde antiquo.
1765. Smollett, Trav. Italy, xxviii. Wks. (1841), 756/2. The great profusion of granite, porphyry, jasper, verde antico, lapis-lazuli, and other precious stones.
1839. Penny Cycl., XIV. 409/1. Some Verde Antico, as that dug near Susa in Piedmont.
1883. Miss Braddon, Gold. Calf, II. vi. 185. Placid gods and goddesses smirking at vacancy, on pedestals of verde antico.
1883. Encycl. Brit., XV. 529/1. The famous verde antico is a rock of this character [i.e., serpentinous limestone].