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Pietra Dura Plaque by Pasquale Orlandini
- This pietra dura plaque is among the finest documented examples of Florentine hardstone marquetry
- Created by master craftsman Pasquale Orlandini, it is a rare documented example
- The remarkable precision of the marquetry lends the still life an almost three-dimensional realism
- Pasquale Orlandini was among the leading Florentine masters
- Get complete item description here
$348,500
Item No.
32-2136
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Description
Pietra Dura Plaque
Pasquale Orlandini
Executed 1873
Executed in Florence in 1873, this extraordinary pietra dura plaque is among the finest documented examples of Florentine hardstone marquetry. Created by master craftsman Pasquale Orlandini, it is an exceptionally rare documented example, confirmed by its original Orlandini label. Only an artist of Orlandini's caliber could achieve such a breathtaking composition, in which jasper, agate, porphyry and other hardstones convincingly recreate the brilliance of gilt metal, translucent. . .
Pasquale Orlandini
Executed 1873
Executed in Florence in 1873, this extraordinary pietra dura plaque is among the finest documented examples of Florentine hardstone marquetry. Created by master craftsman Pasquale Orlandini, it is an exceptionally rare documented example, confirmed by its original Orlandini label. Only an artist of Orlandini's caliber could achieve such a breathtaking composition, in which jasper, agate, porphyry and other hardstones convincingly recreate the brilliance of gilt metal, translucent. . .
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Pietra Dura Plaque
Pasquale Orlandini
Executed 1873
Executed in Florence in 1873, this extraordinary pietra dura plaque is among the finest documented examples of Florentine hardstone marquetry. Created by master craftsman Pasquale Orlandini, it is an exceptionally rare documented example, confirmed by its original Orlandini label. Only an artist of Orlandini's caliber could achieve such a breathtaking composition, in which jasper, agate, porphyry and other hardstones convincingly recreate the brilliance of gilt metal, translucent opaline glass, carved cameos and delicate seashells. The remarkable precision of the marquetry lends the still life an almost three-dimensional realism, showcasing the extraordinary possibilities of this demanding art form.
Set against a dramatic Belgian black marble ground, the richly detailed Neoclassical composition draws inspiration from the archaeological discoveries at Pompeii and Herculaneum. The original Orlandini label was recorded during the plaque's 1988 Sotheby's sale, firmly documenting its execution in Florence in 1873. Further underscoring its importance, the Victoria & Albert Museum cites this very plaque as a reference example for its own Florentine hardstone table, establishing it as one of the best documented and most significant works by the artist.
Pasquale Orlandini was among the leading Florentine masters who carried the celebrated tradition of pietra dura into the 19th century. Established under Grand Duke Ferdinando I de' Medici with the founding of Florence's Galleria dei Lavori in 1588, pietra dura became one of Italy's most prestigious artistic traditions, prized by European courts and later revived by Grand Tour collectors. As the state workshops increasingly shifted toward restoration, private makers such as Orlandini preserved the art through works of exceptional refinement. Few of his creations are securely documented, making this authenticated and historically recorded plaque an outstanding testament to Florentine craftsmanship.
36 3/4" high x 58 1/4" wide x 2 1/2" deep
Provenance:
Private collection, Florence
Sotheby's, London, 14 April 1988, lot 180, with the original label inscribed in Italian: "Pasquale Orlandini, Sculpi e Disegno in Firenze l'anno 1873"
Private collection, Europe
M.S. Rau, New Orleans
Pasquale Orlandini
Executed 1873
Executed in Florence in 1873, this extraordinary pietra dura plaque is among the finest documented examples of Florentine hardstone marquetry. Created by master craftsman Pasquale Orlandini, it is an exceptionally rare documented example, confirmed by its original Orlandini label. Only an artist of Orlandini's caliber could achieve such a breathtaking composition, in which jasper, agate, porphyry and other hardstones convincingly recreate the brilliance of gilt metal, translucent opaline glass, carved cameos and delicate seashells. The remarkable precision of the marquetry lends the still life an almost three-dimensional realism, showcasing the extraordinary possibilities of this demanding art form.
Set against a dramatic Belgian black marble ground, the richly detailed Neoclassical composition draws inspiration from the archaeological discoveries at Pompeii and Herculaneum. The original Orlandini label was recorded during the plaque's 1988 Sotheby's sale, firmly documenting its execution in Florence in 1873. Further underscoring its importance, the Victoria & Albert Museum cites this very plaque as a reference example for its own Florentine hardstone table, establishing it as one of the best documented and most significant works by the artist.
Pasquale Orlandini was among the leading Florentine masters who carried the celebrated tradition of pietra dura into the 19th century. Established under Grand Duke Ferdinando I de' Medici with the founding of Florence's Galleria dei Lavori in 1588, pietra dura became one of Italy's most prestigious artistic traditions, prized by European courts and later revived by Grand Tour collectors. As the state workshops increasingly shifted toward restoration, private makers such as Orlandini preserved the art through works of exceptional refinement. Few of his creations are securely documented, making this authenticated and historically recorded plaque an outstanding testament to Florentine craftsmanship.
36 3/4" high x 58 1/4" wide x 2 1/2" deep
Provenance:
Private collection, Florence
Sotheby's, London, 14 April 1988, lot 180, with the original label inscribed in Italian: "Pasquale Orlandini, Sculpi e Disegno in Firenze l'anno 1873"
Private collection, Europe
M.S. Rau, New Orleans
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Specifications
| Period: | 1816-1918 |
| Origin: | Italy |
| Type: | Other Fine Art |
| Style: | Neoclassicism |
| Depth: | 2.5 in. (6.35 cm) |
| Width: | 58.25 in. (147.96 cm) |
| Height: | 36.75 in. (93.35 cm) |
Buy With Confidence
For over a century, we've placed important art, rare jewels and exceptional objects with more than 14,000 collectors worldwide, and have been recognized by trusted publications including Robb Report, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and more.
On Approval
Examine select works in person before you commit
125% Guarantee
Full credit plus 5% annual appreciation for five years
Trusted Expertise
Over two centuries of combined experience across our specialists
