Table in marble inlay

Very rare table in marble marquetry (probably from an altar) probably Sienna yellow, red Campan cherry, Turquin gray, Carrara white, purple brocatelle, antique green from Greece, and lapis lazuli and mother of pearl. The composition presents a complex game of interlacing and stylized flowers in a perfect symmetry.
Italian work, from Naples
In the taste of Cosimo Fanzago (1591-1678)
Beginning of the 18th century
Restorations of use, posterior framing, posed on a plexiglass base allowing to form a table
H. 211 x W. 110 x D. 4,5 cm and H. 73 cm (with base)

Marble marquetry is part of the work of hard stones (called pietra dura in Italian). It had a great success in Italy, especially in Rome, then in Florence. This taste for polychrome marbles extended to Naples, the most important city in southern Italy, at the beginning of the 17th century. It is then very present in the churches and in particular on the facings of altars. The architect Cosimo Fanzago is one of the spearheads of this Neapolitan school. His work is characterized by the use of a great variety of marbles and mother-of-pearl as presented in our tray. He also uses the "giallo", a technique allowing to obtain a red dark light on the stone by heating, technique also used on our work.

France is not left behind with the taste for the hard stone. Indeed, under Louis XIV and with the foundation of the Gobelins, the cabinets exposed in the great houses are decorated with this marquetry. Spain was also not left behind and followed the talent of the Italians. However, Italy remains a driving force thanks to the workshops created by the Medici family in 1588 in Florence.