Items Similar to Italian Grand Tour Specimen Marble Circular Chessboard Plaque Pietra Dura 19th C
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 11
Italian Grand Tour Specimen Marble Circular Chessboard Plaque Pietra Dura 19th C
$2,470
£1,908.50
€2,206.41
CA$3,490.29
A$3,914.59
CHF 2,050.01
MX$47,566.10
NOK 26,031.70
SEK 24,679.89
DKK 16,469.70
About the Item
A finely crafted circular pietra dura plaque, likely originating from Italy during the mid-to-late 19th century, this specimen marble and hardstone inlaid chessboard combines decorative virtuosity with didactic collecting traditions. Designed in the form of a game board with alternating squares of rare and exotic stones, it is framed within an ebonized and gilt-edged wood surround and mounted as a wall plaque, consistent with Grand Tour decorative practices.
At the center lies an 8 x 8 checkerboard inlaid with contrasting specimens—predominantly black Belgian marble or nero belgio against an array of variegated marbles and hardstones. These include richly veined breccias, serpentines, jaspers, porphyries, and granites, many of which can be traced to ancient Roman and Italian quarry sources. Surrounding the board is a segmented border of additional marbles in various geometric arrangements, forming a complementary mosaic that both frames and elevates the central field.
Several identifiable stones likely include:
* **Giallo Siena** – a golden yellow marble from Tuscany, visible in the warm ochre squares and border segments.
* **Rosso Verona / Rosso Levanto** – red brecciated marbles from Northern Italy, often flecked with white and purple veining.
* **Verde Alpi / Verde Antico** – deep green marbles with white veining, likely used in several border segments and squares.
* **Breccia di Serravezza** – multi-tonal breccia marble used in variegated reddish-pink squares and borders.
* **Portoro** – black marble with golden veining, probably forming some of the darker checker squares.
* **Lapis Lazuli** – a rare and valuable blue semiprecious stone from Afghanistan, identifiable in at least one vividly blue square.
* **Siena Brocatelle / Broccatello di Spagna** – golden-veined limestone with intricate fossil patterns.
* **Lumachella** – fossiliferous marble containing small shells or marine fragments, possibly seen in the beige-speckled areas.
* **African Giallo Antico or Giallo Numidico** – ancient quarries of yellow marble used in Roman times, revived in 19th-century Grand Tour production.
Such works were typically produced in Florentine or Roman pietra dura workshops and were sold to affluent European and American tourists traveling through Italy, eager to bring back refined souvenirs that celebrated classical taste and natural history. Their appeal combined the scientific collecting of geological specimens with decorative elegance, and they were often incorporated into tabletops, framed wall plaques, or architectural panels.
The convex roundel presentation and high degree of polish across all surfaces, as well as the complex arrangement of exotic stones, suggest this example was intended more for display than use as a functional chessboard. The absence of wear to the playing field supports this interpretation.
Measurements: 16" diameter.
- Dimensions:Height: 2 in (5.08 cm)Diameter: 16 in (40.64 cm)
- Style:Grand Tour (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:19th century
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor wear commensurate with age and use. Areas of frame have been retouched with black paint and gilt.
- Seller Location:Atlanta, GA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU7838246067662
About the Seller
5.0
Platinum Seller
Premium sellers with a 4.7+ rating and 24-hour response times
Established in 2012
1stDibs seller since 2022
209 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: <1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: South Easton, MA
- Return Policy
Authenticity Guarantee
In the unlikely event there’s an issue with an item’s authenticity, contact us within 1 year for a full refund. DetailsMoney-Back Guarantee
If your item is not as described, is damaged in transit, or does not arrive, contact us within 7 days for a full refund. Details24-Hour Cancellation
You have a 24-hour grace period in which to reconsider your purchase, with no questions asked.Vetted Professional Sellers
Our world-class sellers must adhere to strict standards for service and quality, maintaining the integrity of our listings.Price-Match Guarantee
If you find that a seller listed the same item for a lower price elsewhere, we’ll match it.Trusted Global Delivery
Our best-in-class carrier network provides specialized shipping options worldwide, including custom delivery.More From This Seller
View AllAmerican Painted Folk Art Game Board for Checkers or Chess, C. 1840
Located in Atlanta, GA
A boldly graphic American folk art game board, hand-painted in red, black, and forest green with yellow dividing lines, dating to the mid-19th century, circa 1840–1860. Constructed f...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century American Folk Art Game Boards
Materials
Wood, Paint
19th Century, Italian Pietra Dura Floral Stone Inlaid Framed Panel
Located in Atlanta, GA
Italian, 19th century.
A fine quality Italian marble Pietra Dura plaque showcasing beautiful white calla lily flowers and vines. The piece is likely a fragment taken from a much lar...
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Wall-mounted Sculptures
Materials
Marble
$796 Sale Price
20% Off
Italian Grand Tour Style, Pietra Dura & Leather Humidor Or Vanity Box
Located in Atlanta, GA
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...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Grand Tour Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Materials
Agate, Malachite, Onyx, Marble, Slate
$476 Sale Price
20% Off
Grand Tour Bronze, Two-Tone Enamel & Pietra Dura Dressing Box or Humidor C. 1880
Located in Atlanta, GA
This exceptional Grand Tour dressing box or humidor, crafted in France circa 1880, epitomizes the luxurious design and meticulous craftsmanship of the late 19th century. Constructed ...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Grand Tour Cigar Boxes and Humidors
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Enamel
$1,516 Sale Price
20% Off
19th Century French Neoclassical Onyx & Bronze Ormolu Mounted Tazza Grand Tour
Located in Atlanta, GA
A late 19th to early 20th-century French neoclassical onyx and gilt bronze tazza, likely produced in the Empire revival period. This finely crafted ornamental compote features a circ...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Grand Tour Decorative Bowls
Materials
Onyx, Bronze
Italian Scagliola Marble Specimen Decorated Dining Table On Ming Style Base
Located in Atlanta, GA
Italian, circa 1960. (This would also make an incredible kitchen island - as the marble top).
This exceptional Italian dining table ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Dining Room Tables
Materials
Carrara Marble
$9,600 Sale Price
20% Off
You May Also Like
Italian Grand Tour Specimen Marble Chess Board
Located in Dallas, TX
Italian Grand Tour pietra dura specimen marble chess / checkers game board, rare and ancient marble squares, Italy, 1820s
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Regency Game Boards
Materials
Multi-gemstone, Siena Marble
Fine Antique William IV 1830 Pietra Dura Specimen Marble Chess Board Table
By PIETRA DURA
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this absolutely exquisite antique Pietra Dura Italian Specimen Marble chess board table, William IV circa 1830
...
Category
Antique 1830s Italian William IV Game Tables
Materials
Marble
20th Century Classicist Style Pietra Dura Table Platter/Top
Located in Berlin, DE
Pietra dura table platter in Classicist style.
Colored inlaid mosaic pattern in facet shape with in itself tapered optic towards the middle. Inlaid with highly valuable semi preciou...
Category
20th Century Neoclassical Tables
Materials
Marble
1990s Spanish Handmade Pietra Dura Inlay Mosaic Square Table Top W/ Chess Board
Located in Marbella, ES
1990s Spanish Pietra Dura inlay mosaic square table top with chess board, handmade with semiprecious gemstones including blue lapis lazuli and green mala...
Category
Late 20th Century European Tables
Materials
Stone, Lapis Lazuli, Marble
Exceptional 19th Century Italian Pietra Dura Marble Centre Table
Located in Rome, IT
The circular top decorated with various specimen marbles including Rosso antico, serpentino, Giallo antico, Palombino, Malachite , Granito, Carrara .. ecc.
Masterpiece of Italian cr...
Category
Antique 1870s Italian Neoclassical Center Tables
Materials
Marble
19th C American Marbleized Slate Chess Board
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
19th C American marbleized slate chess board, resembling fine marble inlay., in the neoclassical style.
With a two inch geometric border, and a ten inch...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century North American Neoclassical Games
Materials
Slate
$716 Sale Price
20% Off