Description
Today we are happy to offer for sale a fabulous antique Italian Pietra Dura precious stone obelisk figure!
This elegant, neoclassical Empire-stye 19th century piece was most likely a Grand Tour memento brought back from the continent by a wealthy traveler. The Grand Tour was a tour of European cultural centers that once was a standard feature of the education of the European elite.
The obelisk is finely crafted and detailed. The piece features a three-level polished black marble base topped by an obelisk on a square base. The base is inlaid with semi-precious stones in a white and green floral motif. The piece-de-resistance is the precious stone Pietra Dura obelisk. Pietra dura is the ancient technique of using cut and fitted, highly polished colored stones to create images. The stonework is applied stone-by-stone to a base after being sliced and cut in different shape sections and then assembled together so precisely that the contact between each section was practically invisible. The front of the obelisk features a free-form geometrical pattern inlaid with precious and semi-precious stones including jasper, turquoise, agate, jade, malachite, mother of pearl, lapis lazuli, and other colored marbles. The piece is of high quality and fine craftsmanship.
The obelisk presents well and is in very good antique condition, with minor display wear, minimal scuffing, and patina commensurate with age. There are a few small (and hard to notice) edge chips. Add old world elegance and grandeur to any interior with this beautiful pietra dura obelisk.
Dimensions: 14-1/2″ in height, 4-1/4″ square base
