19th Century Gilt Bronze & Pietra Dura Marble Tables, Set of 2

Pair of beautiful late 19th-early 20th century gilt bronze centre tables with ornately cast columns and scrolled triform bases. Each with an octagonal inlaid pietre dure marble tops. Pietre dure, is a term for the inlay technique of using cut and fitted, highly polished colored stones to create images. It is considered a decorative art. The stonework, after the work is assembled loosely, is glued stone-by-stone to a substrate after having previously been "Sliced and cut in different shape sections; and then assembled together so precisely that the contact between each section was practically invisible". Stability was achieved by grooving the undersides of the stones so that they interlocked, rather like a jigsaw puzzle, with everything held tautly in place by an encircling 'frame'. Many different colored stones, particularly marbles here, were used, along with semiprecious, and even precious stones. It first appeared in Rome in the 16th century, reaching its full maturity in Florence. Pietra Dura items are generally crafted on green, white or black marble base stones. Typically the resulting panel is completely flat as this fine example. H 70 in. x Dm 65 in. H 177.8 cm x Dm 165.1 cm