Agate Decorative Objects

This is a superb decorative antique Italian Grand Tour marble Pietra Dura mounted desk paperweight, circa 1880 in date. This splendid rectangular paperweight is exquisitely inlaid with a sumptuous arrangement of semi-precious stones including malachite, agate, onyx and amethyst. It is beautifully inlaid on a slate base. Not only is this desk paperweight very functional, but it is also an exquisite mineralogical wonder that can be admired by all discerning collectors. Condition: In excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation, Dimensions in cm: Height 2 x Width 17 x Depth 10 Dimensions in inches: Height 1 inch x width 7 inches x depth 4 inches. Pietra dura is a term for the inlay technique of using cut and fitted, highly polished coloured stones to create images. It is considered a decorative art. Pietre dure is an Italian plural meaning "hard rocks" or hardstones; the singular pietra dura is also encountered in Italian. In Italian, but not in English, the term embraces all gem engraving and hardstone carving, which is the artistic carving of three-dimensional objects in semi-precious stone, normally from a single piece, for example in Chinese jade. The traditional convention in English has been to use the singular pietra dura just to denote multi-colored inlay work. However, in recent years there has been a trend to use pietre dure as a term for the same thing, but not for all of the techniques it covers, in Italian. But the title of a 2008 exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Art of the Royal Court: Treasures in Pietre Dure from the Palaces of Europe used the full Italian sense of the term, probably because they thought that it had greater brand recognition. The material on the website speaks of objects such as a vase in lapis lazuli as being examples of "hardstone carving (pietre dure)" The Victoria & Albert Museum in London uses both versions on its website, but uses pietra dura. "A method of inlaying coloured marbles or semi-precious stones into a stone base, often in geometric or flower patterns...." Giovanni Montelatici...

A truly stunning pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Agate and ormolu urns. Each is raised on a square ormolu base with laurel wreath and fluted socle with large foliate. The beautiful and impressive richly hued agate body is decorated with wonderful little boy mermaid handles...

A Rare, Natural Masterpiece: A Large Lace Agate Slice with a Clear Quartz Interior, Perfect Bandings and Colorful Chalcedony ▫️ Description An agate slice that embodies the utmost ...

3 beautiful antique Victorian snuff or trinket boxes with gilt metal or brass sides and banded or moss agate tops and bottoms. They have some beautiful coloring. The metal is not m...

19th Century Agate spinner watch key and wax seal stamp A 19th Century pocket watch key with Agate. The center is hinged to enable the inlaid cut Aga...

3 beautiful antique Victorian snuff or trinket boxes with gilt metal sides and banded or moss agate tops and bottoms. They have some beautiful coloring. The metal is not marked so l...

Our snuff bottles are 100% hand painted from within and topped with gemstone grade agate lids. The Chinese art of églomisé uses a very thin bamboo brush with a few strands of hair to...

A beautiful carved, slightly oval shaped and polished crystal agate stone ashtray, dish, bowl or vide-poche by unknown maker. Wonderful organic slightly oval form with lines or ring...

Set of pink amethyst, agate, fossilised ammonite and coral fossil Continental, 20th Century Largest: Height 6cm, diameter 18cm Smallest: Height 3.5cm, width 18cm, depth 12cm The col...

This item is a sculpture, made in France Circa 1970. It is a cube of resin, with in the inside an inclusion of an Agate Stone.

Misiones agate & alpaca silver collection is inspired in our Iguazu falls were we get this beautiful stone. In our boxes and photoframes the star is a big natural piece of this b...

Four crystal glass bottles painted from the inside by a skilled artist wielding a 1-hair brush. With deft precision, the artist captures scenes of nature depicting citrons, chrysanth...

Misiones agate collection is inspired in our Iguazu falls were we get this beautiful stone. In our boxes and photoframes the star is a big natural piece of this beautiful, unique one...

A beautiful, natural, brown, tan, honey, cream onyx agate dish with decorative ball sphere in the organic modern style. Piece can work as a small jewelry dish (demonstrated), a stand...

A '70s modern brass and onyx/agate desk pen holder. Onyx/agate is a red burgundy hue. Pen is in fine working order. Picture frame and brass tape dispenser...

Beautiful jewelry box made of agate with golden brass finishes, small in size. The turned feet are also made of agate, giving the piece a particular elegance. The hard stone, due to ...

A neutral hue agate jewelry dish, decorative object, or small bowl/vessel. Piece can work as a small jewelry/trinket dish, a standalone decorative piece, or paperweight/desk accessor...

Well crafted Chinese carved amber agate carnelian censer incense burner with lidded fu dog lion final.

Our snuff bottles are topped with gemstone grade agate lids and 100% hand painted from within. The Chinese art of eglomise uses a very thin bamboo brush with a few strands of hair to...

Austrian silver with Agate box, 1921-1922 A silver with Agate lidded box Austrian silver hall marks 1921-1922, Marked in both parts with the Austrian silver hall mark, the numbers o...

Mischievous creature sculpture, by Aurelio Teno, unsigned, Spanish, circa 1960s. Constructed of a seashell, silver or silvered bronze, and semi precious stone eyes on an agate base. ...

An onyx agate bowl in the organic modern style, with a raw exterior and polished smooth interior, in a blue-grey hue. Dimensions: 3" Height x 6" Diameter.

A beautiful blue grey agate onyx vessel, Organic Modern, circa 20th century. Piece can work as a small jewelry dish, a standalone decorative piece, ...

Small walnut trinket box with agate inlay lid, circa 1990s. The box is in very good vintage condition and measures 3.75”D x 2”H. Made in Brazil. #3907

Misiones agate collection is inspired in our Iguazu falls were we get this beautiful stone. In our boxes and photoframes the star is a big natural piece of this beautiful, unique one...

Charming Early 19th Century English Agate Bowl on Silver Plate. Classic piece to add to a collection or functional to hold jewelry such as rings or can function as a salt cellar. Mak...

Exquisite Moss Agate Pedestal Bowl with Silver Mounts, Unmarked, Early 20th Century A refined and sculptural small pedestal bowl carved from richl...

Top grade agate slab from Brazil. Agates are formed in rounded nodules, which are sliced open to bring out the internal pattern hidden in the stone. Their ...

18th-century Italian fragment base with fossil agate coral and calcite crystal on a polished agate base.  The 18th century hand carved fragment base is originally from Tuscany. The ...

These two crystal glass bottles are works of art painted from the inside by a skilled artist wielding a 1-hair brush. With deft precision, the artist captures scenes reminiscent of 1...

Our snuff bottles are topped with gemstone grade agate lids and 100% hand painted from within. The Chinese art of églomisé uses a very thin bamboo brush with a few strands of hair to...

Beautiful and large desk object in natural onyx stone, it is a wonderful handmade paperweight or bowl for rings. This item can nicely be used as an ashtray or in a collection wit...

A pair of 18th century Italian silver leaf candlestick tops with polished agate coral and baroque pearls. The hand-carved, silver lea...

A stunning 2.7 lb, all natural agate horse bust. The sculpture preserved the original characters of the gem stone with amazing crystal formations. Great de...

Beautiful Chinese agate snuff bottle turned into a match striker by Crest Paris, France early 20th Century , and marked as shown.

Striking large vertical presentation displaying vibrant purple amethyst bordered by a thick agate layer. One of a group of four impressive specimens. Pieces such as this are hard t...

A beautiful carved, slightly oval shaped and polished reddish brown stone dish, bowl, ashtray or vide-poche by unknown maker. Wonderful organic slightly oval form with warm colours o...

17th century Italian church vase with fossilized coral, a double crystal point on an agate base. This fragment is from a church in Florence. It was found and saved from the historic...

Cup on foot in cut agate with solid gold setting rings (no hallmarks) Height 9.5 cm Diameter 7.7 x 11.3 cm 19th century

Unique sculpture made of a bamboo-inspired central stem on which stands a flying brass eagle. Three lights hidden between a fan of beige and brown agate. Signed by Fernandez

A Stunning Late Grand Tour Collectors Box 19th Century Mahogany & Ebony Pietra Dura Karlsbad, Germany. The Lid Is Decorated with Marble And Agate Geometric Motifs. With Continen...

Jewels for your desk or table.......A Pair of antique semi-precious Scottish banded agate wax seals for sealing letters. They are hand carved in natural s...

Metal Parrot handwrought mixed metals serving dish -decorative bowl. Agate stone and abalone inserts. Style of Los Castillo made Mexico 1970s. Signed with makers label underneath. Fa...

A beautiful carved, shaped and polished Onyx Agate stone dish, bowl or vide-poche by unknown maker. Wonderful organic slightly oval form with warm lines or rings of caramel, cream an...

This exceptional humidor or vanity box is a masterwork of craftsmanship, designed in the exquisite style of the Italian Grand Tour, a period of cultural exploration and refinement th...

This is an extremely unique and beautiful piece. Having a deep toned black agate ashtray bowl, finely carved Pekingese dog and barrel (match holder) form mount to edge and match stri...

Sculptural 18th century Italian crucifix mounted on jasper with crystal points. The crystal points create more sunrays around the halo of the crucifix. The reddish tips of the crysta...

An exceptional, fine, and impressive, antique George V English sterling silver gimbal table lighter; an addition to our smoking related silverware collection This exceptional antique George V sterling silver table lighter has a globular form to a rounded composite handle. The surface of the piece is plain and embellished with the contemporary bright cut engraved initial 'H' beneath a Baron's coronet. The center of this antique silver table lighter...

The mottled brown agate with translucence when held to light. The cover with a gold rope twist edge above hinged clasp with wreath and berry design above a cushion base

Sculptural 18th century Italian cross mounted on smoky quartz crystals in matrix with pyrite formations. The center of the cross has an abstract figure of Christ created from acrylic crystals. The missing sunrays are replaced with the smoky quartz crystal points...

Pair of 18th century Italian gold candlesticks with agate coral and baroque pearls. The altar sticks originally came from a church in Tusc...

Brazilian thin slice of dark grey agate mounted on a wood stand. Agate is a banded form of finely-grained, microcrystalline Quartz. The lovely color patterns and banding make this...

Intaglio is a technique which dates back to antiquity and is still in use today. Images are carved or engraved in gemstones leaving a hollow impression in the untouched background. T...

Showcasing a beautifully sculptural silhouette, this vintage cast stone aggregate planter embodies the timeless appeal of rustic garden design with an organic, architectural presence...

A nice group of three antique Victorian snuff or trinket boxes with metal sides and banded or moss agate tops and bottoms. I’m not quite sure what the smallest one is made of. It has...

18th century Italian leaf fragment with a natural forming baroque pearl and barite crystals on barite in matrix and polished agate base. The crystals have encrusted themselves around...

18th century Italian processional finial with polished agate coral on a coordinating agatized coral base. The finial originally came from a church in Tuscany. Polished agate cora...

Misiones agate collection is inspired in our Iguazu falls were we get this beautiful stone. In our boxes and photoframes the star is a big natural piece of this beautiful, unique one...

Misiones agate collection is inspired in our Iguazu falls were we get this beautiful stone. In our boxes and photoframes the star is a big natural piece of this beautiful, unique one...

Dimensions : 35 x 29 cm // 13,78" x 11,42" 40 x 20 cm // 15.7” x 13.3” Misiones agate collection is inspired in our Iguazu falls were we get this beautiful stone. In our boxes and p...