This incredible pair of pietre dure console tables can be counted among the most impressive pieces of hardstone artistry in the world. The tables closely resemble nine of the most famous pietre dure tables ever made — those created for Spain’s King Charles III in the late 18th century. Eight of the nine tables are currently held in the Museo Nacional del Prado (Madrid), while the ninth can be found in the Ajuda Palace in Lisbon. These breathtaking console tables are the only known pair outside those made for Charles III himself, and were possibly a part of the original commission or ordered by a patron who viewed the royal set in the palace. Exhibiting an extravagant combination of materials, the tables are impressive examples of both Italian hardstone artistry and craftsmanship.
