Remarkable Coffee Table w/ a 19th Century Italian Pietra Dura Slab - 37½"

A colorful coffee table featuring an italian 19th century marble inlay top set on a contemporary iron base. Built around an oval central reserve, the tabletop’s hardstone marquetry displays a rich program of scrollwork cartouches, starbursts, floral sprays, and various geometric forms, each composed of individually cut stones whose hues range from earthy brown and ochre to deep lapis-like blues, forest greens, black, and creamy whites. These shapes are set within a structured yet exuberant arrangement that alternates color and pattern across the surface, creating a dynamic, jewel-like mosaic that reads like a painting in stone.

This technique -known as pietra dura (literally hard stone)- is one of the most refined decorative arts in European history, developed from ancient Roman opus sectile and brought to its pinnacle during the Italian Renaissance, especially in Florence under Medici patronage. In pietra dura, slabs of colored marble and other hardstones are cut with such precision that they fit together like a jigsaw, forming images with no visible seams. The result is a flat, highly polished mosaic of vibrant colors and intricate patterns admired by aristocratic and Grand Tour collectors alike for its craftsmanship and painterly effect.

Pietra dura table tops became prized luxury objects in palaces and villas, embodying technical mastery and a deep appreciation for the natural beauty of stone in decorative arts. Today, these works are valued just as highly for their sculptural presence and graphic strength, admired as timeless compositions that bridge craftsmanship and design. Their bold patterns, mineral palettes, and enduring surfaces allow them to integrate effortlessly into contemporary interiors, where they are appreciated not only as functional furnishings but as works of art in their own right. 

Condition and patina consistent with age.
Approx. overall 17¼" high x 37½" long x 21¼" wide
Approx. overall 44cm high x 95cm long x 54cm wide