A SET OF THREE ITALIAN PIETRA DURA OVAL MEDALLIONS 18TH CENTURY
Details
Depicting harbour and landscape scenes, the stones including Arnese, giallo di Siena, rosso antico and lapis lazuli, in later frames The larger plaque: 51⁄2 in. (13.5 cm.) high; 7 in. (17.5 cm.) wide The larger including frame: 61⁄4 in. (16 cm.) high; 8 in. (20 cm.) wide The smaller plaques: 41⁄2 in. (10.5 cm.) high; 51⁄2 in. (14 cm.) wide The smaller including frames 51⁄4 in. (13.5 cm.) high; 63⁄4 in. (17 cm.) wide, including frame
Provenance
Hampel, Munich, December 2012.
Lot Essay
The beautiful background of these plaques is a stone found in the River Arno in Florence called Alberese and part of a group of stones known generally as pietra paesina. Mineral deposits in these stones form enchanting patterns that were used by the Florentine lapidaries as trees or other natural features in pietra dura plaques. Employed much more rarely than the black Belgian marble or paragone di Fiandra background of many Florentine plaques, this background was particularly prized in the 17th century and was used principally for landscape or hunting scenes.
Details
Depicting harbour and landscape scenes, the stones including Arnese, giallo di Siena, rosso antico and lapis lazuli, in later frames The larger plaque: 51⁄2 in. (13.5 cm.) high; 7 in. (17.5 cm.) wide The larger including frame: 61⁄4 in. (16 cm.) high; 8 in. (20 cm.) wide The smaller plaques: 41⁄2 in. (10.5 cm.) high; 51⁄2 in. (14 cm.) wide The smaller including frames 51⁄4 in. (13.5 cm.) high; 63⁄4 in. (17 cm.) wide, including frame
Provenance
Hampel, Munich, December 2012.
Lot Essay
The beautiful background of these plaques is a stone found in the River Arno in Florence called Alberese and part of a group of stones known generally as pietra paesina. Mineral deposits in these stones form enchanting patterns that were used by the Florentine lapidaries as trees or other natural features in pietra dura plaques. Employed much more rarely than the black Belgian marble or paragone di Fiandra background of many Florentine plaques, this background was particularly prized in the 17th century and was used principally for landscape or hunting scenes.
