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Lot Essay
The elegant à l’antique design of this table top with its richly veined central panel of precious pavonazzetto marble within a delicate micro-mosaic border of flowers and an interlaced Greek key design, reflects the renewed taste in Rome at the end of the 18th century for the arts of ancient, classical Rome among sophisticated collectors. Several skilled craftsmen specializing in micro-mosaic antique-inspired ‘pictures’ of remarkable realism were active in Rome at this time, notably Giacomo Raffaelli (1753-1836), Antonio Aguatti (d. 1846) and Gioacchino Barberi (1772-1857).
The overall design of the table top, with its dramatically displayed central panel of marble, evokes the table tops created by in Rome in the late 16th century, which themselves paid tribute to the marble craftsmen of ancient Rome.
The overall design of the table top, with its dramatically displayed central panel of marble, evokes the table tops created by in Rome in the late 16th century, which themselves paid tribute to the marble craftsmen of ancient Rome.