Condition - Very Good The item shows wear from consistent use, but it remains in good condition and functions properly. Item may arrive with damaged packaging or be repackaged. It may be marked, have identifying markings on it, or have minor cosmetic damage. It may also be missing some parts/accessories or bundled items.
Hardstones: The Gilbert Collection
Used Book in Good Condition
The technique of Hardstone mosaic was developed in the sixteenth century under the patronage of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany, in parallel with the revival of Roman mosaics made from tiny tesserae. Complex images were created from a matrix of coloured marbles and semiprecious stones, selected and cut with breathtaking craftsmanship. During the seventeenth century the technique was used in the production of some of the most magnificent luxury objects in Italy; in the eighteenth century, panels of landscapes, birds and flowers were incorporated into furniture and snuffboxes. This gave way in the nineteenth century to the production of pictures in extraordinarily convincing imitation of oil paintings.
