Antique Grand Tour Pietra Dura Specimen Top Paperweight 19th C
*** PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR FULL PRODUCT IMAGE GALLERY ***
Condition:
In excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation,
Dimensions in cm:
Height 2 x Width 17 x Depth 10
Dimensions in inches:
Height 1 inch x Width 7 inches x Depth 4 inches
Pietra dura is a term for the inlay technique of using cut and fitted, highly polished coloured stones to create images. It is considered a decorative art.
Pietre dure is an Italian plural meaning "hard rocks" or hardstones; the singular pietra dura is also encountered in Italian. In Italian, but not in English, the term embraces all gem engraving and hardstone carving, which is the artistic carving of three-dimensional objects in semi-precious stone, normally from a single piece, for example in Chinese jade.
The traditional convention in English has been to use the singular pietra dura just to denote multi-colored inlay work. However, in recent years there has been a trend to use pietre dure as a term for the same thing, but not for all of the techniques it covers, in Italian.
But the title of a 2008 exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Art of the Royal Court: Treasures in Pietre Dure from the Palaces of Europe used the full Italian sense of the term, probably because they thought that it had greater brand recognition. The material on the website speaks of objects such as a vase in lapis lazuli as being examples of "hardstone carving (pietre dure)"
The Victoria & Albert Museum in London uses both versions on its website, but uses pietra dura. "A method of inlaying coloured marbles or semi-precious stones into a stone base, often in geometric or flower patterns...."
Giovanni Montelatici (1864-1930) was an Italian Florentine artist whose brilliant work has been distributed across the world by tourists and collectors. Owners of Giovanni's work included Donald Trump.
It served as an educational rite of passage. Though primarily associated with the British nobility and wealthy landed gentry, similar trips were made by wealthy young men of Protestant Northern European nations on the Continent, and from the second half of the 18th century some South American, U.S., and other overseas youth joined in. The tradition was extended to include more of the middle class after rail and steamship travel made the journey less of a burden.
The primary value of the Grand Tour, it was believed, lay in the exposure both to the cultural legacy of classical antiquity and the Renaissance, and to the aristocratic and fashionably polite society of the European continent. In addition, it provided the only opportunity to view specific works of art, and possibly the only chance to hear certain music. A grand tour could last from several months to several years. It was commonly undertaken in the company of a knowledgeable guide or tutor.
The Grand Tour not only provided a liberal education but allowed those who could afford it the opportunity to buy things otherwise unavailable at home, and it thus increased participants' prestige and standing. Grand Tourists would return with crates of art, books, pictures, sculpture, and items of culture, which would be displayed in libraries, cabinets, gardens, and drawing rooms, as well as the galleries built purposely for their display; The Grand Tour became a symbol of wealth and freedom.
Our reference: A1996d
Image gallery
Take a tour of our London showrooms
Write to us:Regent Antiques Manor Warehouse 318 Green Lanes London N4 1BX |
By Underground:Take Piccadilly line to Manor House station. Go to top of escalators and turn left. Take exit 7 and walk straight on for 10 metres. Manor Warehouse is on the right. |
By road:There is car parking available on site. |
|
|
|
|
Payment
Pay with your credit card through PayPal.
Please make all cheques payable to "Regent Antiques."
Bank details: Regent Antiques - BBVA - Account: 05701615 - Sort: 23-59-11
Shipping and returns
We ship worldwide.
Postage and packing for:
Mainland UK: FREE
European Union: £10.00
North America: £18.00 (Please note that this is in Pounds Sterling, not US Dollars)
Rest of world: £22.00
If you require shipping to a location for which a shipping charge is not provided, please ask for a quote prior to bidding.
Williams and Hill Forwarding is our preferred shipping agent for our valuable and fragile furniture items delivered within the UK.
After you purchase, we will make all the arrangements to get your item to your door.
Stephen Morris Shipping is our preferred specialist for delivery outside of the UK.
Increased shipping costs incurred when purchasing additional items are generally quite low.
For the best value, we recommend offsetting this cost by purchasing multiple items.
We require that someone be home on the agreed delivery day if applicable, otherwise a redelivery fee will apply.
In accordance with Distance Selling Regulations, we offer a 14-day money back guarantee if you are not satisfied with the item.
The item must be returned in its original packaging and condition.
Unless the item is not as described in a material way, the buyer is responsible for return shipping expenses.
Buyers are fully responsible for any customs duties or local taxes that may be incurred on items sent outside of the United Kingdom, and we are not responsible for any delays in shipping or in the customs procedures of any jurisdiction, which are completely beyond our control.
Please be advised that claims for damage with certain carriers can sometimes take several months to resolve, and we would be grateful for your patience and cooperation throughout the process.
Returns will be processed and refunds issued within 2-3 business days of receipt.