Small, Domed Box, 19th Century, Sorrento, Italy

Rare Italian gift box, beautifully inlaid with remarkable finesse in the Pompeian style, crafted in the second half of the 19th century in the workshops of Luigi Garguilo & Figlio, located in Sornette across from the island of Capri. Friezes of flowers and geometric motifs frame a marquetry scene featuring interlacing patterns and two stylized dolphins.
These artisans used various types of wood, such as holly, mahogany, chestnut, orange, lemon, pear, maple, walnut, olive, fig, oak, and cherry, many of which were used to create this beautiful piece.
In Sorrento, in the Bay of Naples, the monks of the San Aggripino monastery had been creating inlays using walnut, lemon wood, and local woods as early as the 16th century. This tradition was carried on by families in the region, from whom the first great masters of this craft would later emerge. They developed and perfected these techniques, incorporating local characteristics; among them, Luigi Garguilo and Antonio Damora were the best known. Sorrento’s status as a highly sought-after vacation destination, frequented by many influential figures, quickly led to national and then international recognition of this art form, resulting in the widespread distribution of the objects and small pieces of furniture produced by these workshops.
A museum in Sorrento houses an incredible collection of pieces tracing the evolution of this craft and is well worth a visit.