Items Similar to Grand Ducal Pietre Dure Console Tables
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 10
Grand Ducal Pietre Dure Console Tables
Price Upon Request
Price Upon Request
Price Upon Request
Price Upon Request
Price Upon Request
Price Upon Request
Price Upon Request
Price Upon Request
Price Upon Request
Price Upon Request
About the Item
Among the most beautiful examples of hardstone artistry that have ever entered our collection, these important Grand Ducal pietre dure console tables are in a class all their own. Their powerful architectural elegance, impressive size and rarity make them two of the finest hardstone masterpieces ever created and quite possibly the greatest pair of pietre dure tables in existence.
With their naturalistically rendered flowers and birds, these tabletop panels showcase the particularly fine quality craftsmanship of the Grand Ducal workshops in Florence during the first quarter of the 17th century. Grand Duke Ferdinando I de Medici, one of the most important personages in the annals of art history, established the Grand Ducal Workshop in 1588. The workshop specialized in the art of pietre dure developed from the ancient art of opus sectile, giving rise to the most luxurious and detailed examples of hardstone artistry ever produced. Its patrons were the Popes and Royals of Europe, and the quality of the objects produced in the workshop is without equal. Typically, because of the high level of workmanship the art form requires, pietre dure plaques were crafted in small sizes. The great majority of known examples of pietre dure are a fraction of the size of our grand tables. The combination of pietre dure and extensive use of other rare decorative hardstones such as lapis lazuli and pietra paesina or “ruin marble” meant that these tabletops were surely produced for a wealthy collector.
The tables are further distinguished by their superbly carved bases by Andrea Brustolon, known as the “Michelangelo of wood.” Brustolon was a Venetian wood sculptor known for his exuberant and intricate Baroque furniture. His high Baroque style was influenced by his years studying in Rome, where he was exposed to the sculpture of Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Crafted in the early 18th century, these bases display Brusolon’s unmatched talent for both figural and foliate work, combining cupids, masks and oversized scrolling vines for a grand, ornate effect. Similar furnishings by Brustolon are held in museums worldwide, including the Victoria & Albert Museum, the National Museum of Scotland and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, while the Ca' Rezzonico Museum in Venice features an entire room dedicated to the sculptor.
For approximately 150 years, these tables were part of the famed Stoneleigh Abbey collection owned by the Lord Leigh family. This renowned English country estate inspired Jane Austen to write Mansfield Park. Lord Leigh eventually sold the tables at Christie’s London in 1962, and the pair have stayed in the collection of the same Florentine family who purchased them from Christie's until we recently acquired them.
Our tables are prominently pictured in the important Saul Levy book Il Mobile Veneziano del Settencento. The pietre dure plaques date circa 1625-1650. The decorative tops likely would have originally been sold with a pair of plain stone columns to display them, and Lord Leigh would have commissioned the custom bases from Brustolon circa 1714 when he added the impressive four-story fifteen-bay Baroque West Wing to Stoneleigh Abbey.
A similar single Grand Ducal tabletop is in the United Kingdom’s National Trust Collection, and a smaller tabletop resides in Buckingham Palace. The flower and bird panels in our examples relate to the famous Badminton Cabinet, also crafted in the Grand Ducal workshops. The Badminton Cabinet became the highest-priced piece of furniture to ever sell at auction in 1990 when it sold for $16.59 million. It again set the record in December 2004, this time for $36 million, meaning it simultaneously held both the first and second place records for the highest auction prices ever for any pieces of furniture. To find a pair of objects featuring this level of artistry in hardstone and wood carving, crafted by such notable artisans, of such size and intricacy, that also hail from a titled estate is nothing short of spectacular.
Pietre dure tops: circa 1625-1650
Bases: circa 1714
Each table 61 1/4" wide x 39" deep x 36" high.
- Creator:Andrea Brustolon (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 36 in (91.44 cm)Width: 61.25 in (155.58 cm)Depth: 39 in (99.06 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Baroque (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1625-1650, 1714
- Condition:
- Seller Location:New Orleans, LA
- Reference Number:Seller: 31-52171stDibs: LU891128959682
About the Seller
5.0
Recognized Seller
These prestigious sellers are industry leaders and represent the highest echelon for item quality and design.
Established in 1912
1stDibs seller since 2010
110 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 4 hours
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: New Orleans, LA
- 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 AllHardstone and Rosewood Centre Table Attributed to Gillows
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in New Orleans, LA
This remarkable rosewood centre table attributed to legendary firm Gillows showcases masterful craftsmanship and stunningly rare hardstone specimens. The table's base is ornately crafted, complete with lion's paw feet, emphasizing the quality of the wood. The most impressive element of this beautiful piece of furniture, however, is the exquisite inlaid table top. Featuring eighteen semi-precious and hardstone specimens artfully arranged in alternating geometric shapes, rare stones like gem quality Lapis Lazuli, Egyptian porphyry and Siberian amethyst dazzle the eye. Other stones and specimens inlaid in square, circle and hexagon shapes include pyrite lapis lazuli, malachite, green aventurine, agate of amethyst, greek spartan porphyry, labradorite, fossilized wood, occhio di pavone, brèche verte d'égypte, sicilian jaspers, blood stone, spanish brocatelle, siena brocatelle, convent siena and nero antico. The sheer variety and superb quality of these features is an overwhelming visual delight and a triumph of craftsmanship.
Hardstone pieces such as this were popular among the British aristocracy...
Category
Antique 19th Century Regency Center Tables
Materials
Agate, Amethyst, Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Porphyry
English Satinwood Parlor Tables
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exquisite pair of hand-painted English satinwood parlor tables is embellished with intricate detailing inspired by floral and classical themes—hallmarks of the esteemed Sheraton...
Category
Antique 19th Century English Sheraton Tables
Materials
Satinwood
$8,850 / set
Chinese Chippendale Mahogany Console Table
Located in New Orleans, LA
This English mahogany console table is a rare period example of the elaborate Chinese Chippendale style. A study in symmetry and balance, this table combines the restrained elegance of the Georgian period with the intricate artistry of the Orientalist aesthetic. Elaborate fretwork on the frieze and pierced supports are beautifully matched by fluted legs. As a whole, it represents a stunning marriage of Chippendale craftsmanship and Eastern design.
Small, decorative tables such as this represented the great influence that China had in European decorative and Fine art beginning in the 1600s. Since the Restoration of the monarchy, there had been a growing interest in Chinese-style design forms in England. Called "chinoiserie" in French, this style had become extremely popular by the middle of the 18th century, and designers such as Thomas Chippendale eagerly adopted the elaborate Eastern designs. By the mid-1750s, the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens were sporting "Chinese Pavilions...
Category
Antique 18th Century English Chinoiserie Console Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Regency-Period Rosewood Card Tables
Located in New Orleans, LA
These exceptional Regency card tables were designed with dual purposes in mind. Crafted of rosewood, the tables serve as attractive console tables when closed. When opened, the table...
Category
Antique 19th Century English Regency Card Tables and Tea Tables
Materials
Brass
Falcon's Eye and Tiger's Eye Table by Théodore Millet
Located in New Orleans, LA
Bronze Table with Falcon Eye and Tiger Eye Top
Théodore Millet
Circa 1890
This exceptional table by renowned Parisian ébéniste Théodore Millet epitomizes the grandeur of late 19th-c...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire End Tables
Materials
Stone, Bronze
Specimen Table Attributed to William Trotter
By William Trotter
Located in New Orleans, LA
Octagonal Specimen Table
William Trotter
Early 19th Century
This extraordinary early 19th-century Scottish specimen table is a museum-quality masterpiece attributed to William Trott...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Scottish Regency Side Tables
Materials
Agate
You May Also Like
Pair of Continental Style Inlaid Wood Side Tables
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Table pair with inlaid geometric pattern contrasting wood tops. Very well-made with bold carved cabriolet legs, convex X form base stretcher with center urn finial and handsome carve...
Category
20th Century French Provincial End Tables
Materials
Hardwood
$1,695 / item
Pair of Italian 18th Century Baroque Style Consoles from the Lombardi Region
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational and high quality pair of Italian 18th century Baroque st. consoles from the Lombardi region. The consoles are raised by scalloped shaped faux painted malachite and gilt...
Category
Antique 18th Century Italian Baroque Console Tables
Materials
Marble
Pair of Royal German Oak Console Tables for Prince-Abbot of Fulda, Circa 1745
Located in Dallas, TX
It is extraordinarily rare for furnishings of Royal provenance to come to market. We are pleased to present a fantastic pair of console tables commissioned for Amand von Buseck, Pri...
Category
Antique Early 18th Century German Louis XV Console Tables
Materials
Stone, Marble
Pair of Carved & Gilt Console Tables with Breche Marble Tops Italian, circa 1780
Located in San Francisco, CA
A pair of remarkable carved and gilt serpentine shaped console tables with violet breche marble tops. Beautifully carved with C scrolls and acanthus leaves, standing on cabriole legs...
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Console Tables
Materials
Marble
Pair of Louis XV-Style Console Tables with Marble Top
Located in Paris, FR
A pair of Louis XV-inspired console tables crafted of marvelously carved natural elm wood. The naturalistic seashells and scrolling acanthus leaves perfectly illustrate the Louis XV ...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Console Tables
Materials
Marble
Pair of 18th Century Italian Rococo Painted Console Tables with Scagliola Tops
Located in Troy, NY
Very decorative and charming pair of console tables of Italian origin, the wooden silvered and cream painted bases with cabriole legs and scrolling ornaments supporting a cheerfully ...
Category
Antique 17th Century Italian Rococo Console Tables
Materials
Scagliola, Pine, Poplar
More Ways To Browse
17th Century Plaque
Florentine Cabinet
Italian Hardstone
Italian Florentine Cabinet
17th Century Scottish Furniture
17th Century Scottish
Carved Stone Masks
Hardstone Flower
Buckingham Palace Furniture
Lapis Lazuli Figure
Tabletop Display Cabinets
Italian Record Cabinet
Hardstone Carving
Jane Austen Antique
Antique Cupid Picture
Florentine Plaque
Lorenzo De Medici
Lapis Carved Bird