19th Set Of 32 Painted Marble Fruits Tuscan Workshop.

Set of 32 painted marble fruits, 19th-century Tuscan workshop.
These 19th-century marble fruits are a refined example of Italian decorative craftsmanship, often carved from white Carrara marble and hand-painted with natural pigments to achieve a hyperrealistic effect. Each piece is typically carved from a single block of Carrara marble, then carved and painted. Sets included a wide variety of fruits, such as apples, figs, apricots, pears, grapes, and citrus fruits, sometimes accompanied by vegetables. These objects were highly popular as decorative elements in stately homes, often displayed in baskets or bowls. The marble version was produced in the Carrara, Forte dei Marmi, and Pietrasanta areas, where the sculptors’ workshops were located; a later alabaster version, between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was produced in Volterra. Although on a smaller scale, some workshops still produce marble fruit today, the early 19th-century models are easily recognizable by the type of pigments used and the great refinement of the craftsmanship, which is entirely handmade.