Antique Victorian Betjemann's Pietra Dura Coromandel Book Slide 19th C

This is a high quality antique Victorian coromandel porcelain inset adjustable book slide, by Betjemann's, 19th century and circa 1870 in date. It is made of stunnning coromandel and features a pair of oval gilt brass mounts enclosing porcelain reserves of seated cherubs, and it is wonderfully decorated with stupendous ormolu mounts decorated with rope detail. This amazing book slide bears the engraved brass plaque. FIELD late STOCKEN 53 Regent Street It was made by the renowned maker of patented mechanisms, Betjemann's of Pentonville Road, London, and bears their engraved plaque name and patent number 5329. It is a delightful object which will display your favourite books beautifully. Condition: In excellent condition. As an antique items, the pieces shows signs of use commensurate with age, these minor condition issues are mentioned for accuracy and, as seen in the accompanying photographs, the slide displays beautifully. Dimensions in cm: Height 5.5 x Width 41 x Depth 18 - Closed Height 20 x Width 67 x Depth 18 - Open Dimensions in inches: Height 2 inches x Width 1 foot, 4 inches x Depth 7 inches - Closed Height 8 inches x Width 2 foot, 2 inches x Depth 7 inches - Open Betjemann & Sons From 1859, based at 36-40 Pentonville Road, London, George Betjemann amd his two sons took the art of cabinet, box and book slide making to new heights. They specialised in designs for operating the way that different compartments in vanity boxes opened and also the sprung system for book slides. 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...

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...

This is a high quality antique Victorian Coromandel self closing adjustable book slide, circa 1860 in date. It features a pair of oval Sevres style plaques depicting cherubs at pl...

A fine & large antique black marble & specimen stone desk obelisk & thermometer, Ashford Derbyshire, circa 1860. This large 14.75" obelisk is made of Derbyshire black marble. The obelisk is very elegantly inlaid with a variety of semi-precious polished hard-stone, including Derbyshire Blue John, lapis lazuli, malachite, Carrara marble, polished agate etc. The top of the obelisk is inlaid with colored stone in a floral design, below is a mercury thermometer with the name "J, Turner Buxton", the thermometer is fully functioning, the base is also inlaid with colored stone in a floral design, the obelisk is raised on a stepped base. Condition is very good, no damage or restoration, this very elegant obelisk is ready to grace your home or office. Ashford Black Marble is the name given to a dark limestone, quarried from mines near Ashford-in-the-Water, in Derbyshire, England. Once cut, turned and polished, its shiny black surface is highly decorative. Ashford Black Marble is a very fine-grained sedimentary rock and is not a true marble in the geological sense. It can be cut and inlaid with other decorative stones and minerals, using a technique known as Pietra Dura. The mineral has been used decoratively since prehistoric times; the first recorded customer was the Elizabethan Countess, Bess of Hardwick...