Antique Italian Grand Tour Style Pietra Dura Floral Panel,

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Description

A refined Florentine pietra dura hardstone panel dating to the early or mid 20th century set within its original ebonized … Read more A refined Florentine pietra dura hardstone panel dating to the early or mid 20th century set within its original ebonized wood frame and retaining its brass hanging loop. The composition presents a stylized botanical study, masterfully inlaid in a variety of hand-cut semiprecious stones against a polished black slate ground.

At the center is a striking flowerhead, likely composed of carnelian and orange jasper, arranged in alternating warm hues to create a rich, dimensional bloom. The closed side buds are formed from contrasting segments of deep blue lapis lazuli and vibrant orange-red jasper. The stems and smaller foliate elements are rendered in pale green aventurine and possibly chrysoprase, while the broader basal leaves exhibit a mosaic of sage-toned green serpentine, russet jasper, and warm-toned brecciated agate, forming a complex architectural base.

This diminutive yet meticulously crafted panel exemplifies the high quality associated with the Grand Tour-era workshops of Florence, where pietra dura reached its artistic zenith. Such works, characterized by the inlay of polished hardstones into slate, were favored by aristocratic and cultured travelers during the 18th and 19th centuries, often collected as portable mementos of Italian craftsmanship and Renaissance revival taste.

Panels of this type were frequently used as decorative plaques, integrated into cabinetry, or framed for display as independent works of art. This example, measuring just under 7 inches high, is a particularly fine and colorful representation of the tradition.

Dimensions: 6.75 inches high x 4.75 inches wide
Stones identified: carnelian, jasper, lapis lazuli, aventurine, serpentine, brecciated agate, possibly chrysoprase See less