Table - Marble - Inlaid piano

PIANO CON MARMI POLICROMI.
ROMA, FINE XVI – INIZI XVII SECOLO
Base in legno intagliato di epoca eclettica di fine Ottocento

Description:
Tabletop in marble with polychrome inlays of rectangular shape, worked with a decorative layout based on geometric ornamentation; the overall scenic effect is achieved through the exclusive use of marbles and precious stones of archaeological origin, a practice common in Roman workshops at the end of the 16th century. The geometric scheme is fairly complex, featuring a classic central octagonal reserva surrounded by rich peripheral decoration. The large central octagonal reserva is in verde breccia (Thessalian marble); followed by an external band with polylined profiles in white marble forming successive reservas with four corner cartouches, containing different breccias and colored marbles. At the corners of the central octagonal reserva and of the four peripheral corner reservas there are small floral decorations in polychrome marbles finely chiaroscuro. The heavy inlaid top rests on a beechwood base stained walnut, specially created at the end of the 19th century in an eclectic milieu, with four vertical supports depicting fantastic zoomorphic creatures, similar to griffins or chimeras, connected to the base by a sturdy crossbeam; the four peripheral bands linking the supports above are carved with floral motifs.
The technique of inlay and that of intarsio of hardstone tablet floors enjoyed great success throughout Europe from the late 16th century onward, and found their birthplace and greatest production in the cities of Rome and Florence. In these two cities, from the 1570s, table tops decorated with polychrome marbles represented interior furnishings with stone elements most in demand for cardinal and noble commissions, such as the Medici or the Borghese, and are considered among the finest examples of Renaissance and Mannerist applied arts.
It is not always easy to identify with absolute certainty whether a table originated in Florence or Rome when decorated with polychrome marbles; both counterparts share the use of archaeological marbles and a taste for aniconic compositions not unlike architectural marble inlays. Not by chance, among the early authors of models for tables of this kind, both in Rome and Florence, are architects such as Vignola and Dosio, many of whose tabletop plans are preserved in the Gabinetto Disegni e Stampe of the Uffizi.
In the case of our table, numerous elements suggest a Roman work, starting from the technique, which excludes the Florentine composed or commesso technique in favor of inlay. Inlay, diffused in Rome and also known as opus sectile, is an ancient technique that provides for the chiseling of the supporting white marble slab to create cavities; the sections of polychrome marble are inserted into the cavities and remain delineated by the white marble strips of the support left visible. The procedure is also called ‘a cassina’ and is a more complex technique to realize than Florentine commesso, as the cells that receive the stone tessellations must be carefully carved, ensuring the same level of undercut remains.

Area of Provenance:
Rome;

Era:
Last quarter of the 16th century / early 17th century;

Conservation status of marble top:
Good, there are signs of wear, scratches, small losses, defects and restorations, as documented by the photos;

Conservation status of table structure:
Excellent.

Dimensions:
Marble inlay top: 85x96 cm, thickness 5 cm
Base in wood: 88x99 cm, height 81 cm

The buyer will be issued the Certificate of Authenticity and Legitimacy of Provenance.
- Due to the delicacy and importance of the object, the purchaser is allowed to pick up in Pescara. For Italian buyers, delivery can be arranged in another method to be agreed between the parties.
- In the case of a foreign buyer, the export procedures must be completed before delivery.