Table With Marquetry Of Polychrome Marbles And Semi-precious Stones, Italy, Early 20th Century

Italian table, Florentine craftsmanship, circa 1920, with a rectangular top in polychrome marble and semi-precious stone marquetry.The design follows the Florentine tradition of pietra dura, an inlay technique that uses stones cut and assembled to form the motif. Against a black marble background, the composition is arranged symmetrically around several oval medallions.

The design combines birds, flowers, foliage, and plant motifs, rendered in marbles and stones of various colors. Ochre fillets and geometric borders structure the composition and frame the various elements of the design. The natural variations in the veining and color of the stones contribute directly to the design.The tabletop is edged with a frieze featuring the same pattern of bands and polychrome inlays. It rests on a wrought-iron base with four curved legs, joined by crossbars and topped with volutes.This type of furniture, from the early 20th century, continues the Florentine tradition of applying hardstone inlays to table tops and furniture.