Pietre Dure II

This is only the second time I've featured pietre dure (Italian for "hard stone") on my blog. (CLICK to view the first example.) "Stone marquetry" is another way of describing the artistic cutting of semiprecious stones, such as agate and lapis lazuli, to create ornate luxury objects. This magnificent example, a fishing scene, has been attributed to Baccio Cappelli, a leading artist in the Grand Ducal Workshops, the Opificio delle Pietre Dure, in Florence in the 17th century. Thought to be worth only £10,000, the stone picture panel fetched £157,250 at Bonhams auction (CLICK).