18th Grand Tour Frame, Pietra Dura Marquetry And Gilt Bronze

A splendid Roman frame from the Grand Tour period, late 18th - early 19th century. Richly inlaid with numerous semiprecious stone medallions, including lapis lazuli and jasper, set in gilded copper plates and adorned with finely chased and gilded bronze applications.
This frame model is a must-have of the Florentine and Roman Baroque, representing a true link between the two cities. As is well known, semiprecious stone workmanship was a specialty of both city workshops, reaching peak levels in the decoration of shelves, cabinets, caskets, and even frames. Regarding the latter, the material used was strictly ebony (or ebonized wood), with so-called "cassette" frames embellished with semiprecious stones such as lapis lazuli at the corners, and often paired with yellow or red Egyptian jasper, amethyst, and agate, in compositions whose geometric pattern could be more or less accentuated (for example, with silver trim), but which generally featured rectangular, spindle-shaped, and diamond-shaped motifs. Another material used for this type of work was gilded bronze, generally applied with leaf-like or even cherub-shaped motifs, which embellished the frame's rebate, articulated the space near the corners, and created movement with sinuous lines along the outer edges. This type of object, therefore, involved cabinetmakers, stonemasons, and bronze workers alike.

During the Grand Tour era, between the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Roman workshops revived the model of ebony and semiprecious stone frames, highly prized by wealthy foreign tourists who frequented the city. The excellent quality of the workmanship, evident in both the quantity and quality of the stones used and the refined chiselling and gilding of the bronzes, confirms their period; these frames were, in fact, reproduced again at the end of the 19th century, but with a vastly different level of quality.

Very good condition, original gilding, slight wear and small signs of age.

Dimensions
Ext 47 x 39 cm
Int 24.5 x 18 cm
Open 23.5 x 16 cm

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++DELIVERY AND PAYMENT++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SHIPPING VIA MBE with UPS - TNT - FEDEX - DHL couriers
Payment methods: Bank transfer - Online credit card (also AMEX) - PayPal (+3.7%) - NO checks +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++