'Pliny Dove' and Daisy Marble Mosaic Top
by Vatican Mosaic Studio
£42,000
Attributed to the Vatican Mosaic Studio
Italy, early 19th Century
Micro-Mosaic top featuring the 'Capitoline Doves' to the centre, surrounded by bright green malachite ring and lapis lazuli rectangular border of Brecciate marble hues of emerald green, teal and aquamarine. A rare and very refined complexion of patterning, with Pietra Dura inlays shaped liked daisies.
Product Description
Attributed to the Vatican Mosaic Studio
Italy, early 19th Century
Micro-Mosaic top featuring the 'Capitoline Doves' to the centre, surrounded by bright green malachite ring and lapis lazuli rectangular border of Brecciate marble hues of emerald green, teal and aquamarine. A rare and very refined complexion of patterning, with Pietra Dura inlays shaped liked daisies.
The slab could very well be the work of the prolific Roman mosaicist Giacomo Raffaelli (1753-1836), who worked for the Vatican Mosaic Studio. This central subject is taken from an ancient Roman floor mosaic of doves that was evacuated by Giuseppe Furuetti at Hadrian's Villa near Rome in 1737. Organised using tiny natural stone cubes, the original mosaic was rumoured to have been made by Sosos of Pergamon, described by Pliny the Elder in his encyclopaedia. In 1764 this mosaic was displayed in the Capitoline Museum, seen by many travellers who copied the piece extensively. Following the death of Raffaelli, a tabletop displaying said scene was described amongst the contents of his workshop, 'a table in mosaic, unfinished, five palmi and seven inches long and two palmi and ten inches high within the middle the cup of with Forietti's Doves'.
With later bronze base
Italy, early 19th Century
Micro-Mosaic top featuring the 'Capitoline Doves' to the centre, surrounded by bright green malachite ring and lapis lazuli rectangular border of Brecciate marble hues of emerald green, teal and aquamarine. A rare and very refined complexion of patterning, with Pietra Dura inlays shaped liked daisies.
The slab could very well be the work of the prolific Roman mosaicist Giacomo Raffaelli (1753-1836), who worked for the Vatican Mosaic Studio. This central subject is taken from an ancient Roman floor mosaic of doves that was evacuated by Giuseppe Furuetti at Hadrian's Villa near Rome in 1737. Organised using tiny natural stone cubes, the original mosaic was rumoured to have been made by Sosos of Pergamon, described by Pliny the Elder in his encyclopaedia. In 1764 this mosaic was displayed in the Capitoline Museum, seen by many travellers who copied the piece extensively. Following the death of Raffaelli, a tabletop displaying said scene was described amongst the contents of his workshop, 'a table in mosaic, unfinished, five palmi and seven inches long and two palmi and ten inches high within the middle the cup of with Forietti's Doves'.
With later bronze base
Code:
3820
Further Information
Details & Dimensions
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H 3.5cm x W 91cm x D 51cm
H 1.38" x W 35.84" x D 20.09"
H 1.38" x W 35.84" x D 20.09"
