
Thomas Moore
Head of Department
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Sold for £7,650 inc. premium
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Head of Department
Provenance
The present pietra dura panel was purchased by the grandfather of the current owner and vendor, 15 January 1993, from Arthur R. Bottiger, Lugano, in Switzerland.
A similar Neapolitan 17th century pietra dura panel to the offered lot is illustrated in A.M. Massinelli, Hardstones, The Gilbert Collection, 2000, London, fig.40, p.123. Its overall design, along with the various types and dispersal of marbles incorporated, are closely comparable to those elements on the present model. Massinelli notes that such an example is typical of the work produced in Naples among the various marble workshops active during the second half of the 17th century.
The Gilbert panel, which has provenance to Giuseppe Constantini, Rome, 1971, was most likely meant to be the facade for an altar. This is possibly also the original purpose with regard to the above. Both panels appear to have some characteristics in common with the truly incredible inlaid marble floor inside the Certosa di San Martino, in Naples.