ATTRIBUTED TO THE GRAND DUCAL WORKSHOPS, PROBABLY AFTER A DESIGN BY GIOVANNI BATTISTA FOGGINI, EARLY 18TH CENTURY

This superb Florentine casket, embellished with intricate oval pietre dure panels in relief and finely chased ormolu mounts, can be attributed to the Grand Ducal Workshops and was most probably created under the direction of the Florentine sculptor Giovanni Battista Foggini (1652-1725).

Pietra Dura, refers to the technique of inlaying highly polished precious and semi-precious stones, such as quartz, chalcedony, agate, jasper and lapis to create a ‘painting in stone’. First appearing in Rome in the 16th century, the revival of this ancient practice (and notoriously difficult skill), rose to particular prominence in Florence towards the end of the 17th century. Often depicting animals, floral sprays and fruits, as well as geometric designs, pietra dura works of art were often conceived as individual panels or table-tops. Typically the hardstones were inlaid to create a flat surface, but they could also be inlaid in relief, as can be seen in the present lot.

The Galleria dei' Lavori, or Grand Ducal Workshops, were established by Ferdinando de Medici (1549-1609) in Florence in 1588, in order to supply works of art to the many Medici residences, such as the Pitti Palace. It was also in the Grand Ducal Workshops that objects such as cabinets and caskets also began to be produced in pietra dura.

The combination of the exotic and expensive materials used to create pietra dura, along with the level of skill required by the craftsmen in the Grand Ducal Workshops, meant that they were highly desired by Europe’s most important collectors. Notwithstanding the many outstanding works in pietra dura created directly for the Medici, for example the decoration and works of art created for the Tribuna in the Uffizi gallery, some of the most important works of art created by the Ducal Workshops include the Badminton Cabinet, supplied for Henry Somerset, 3rd Duke of Beaufort in 1720-32, today in the Liechtenstein Garden Palace, Vienna (inv. MO1584) and the Cabinet commissioned for the Elector Palatine in 1709, now in the Palazzo Pitti, Florence (Inv. OA 1911, no. 909), (see E. Colle, Il Mobile Barocco in Italia, Arredi e decorazioni d'interni dal 1600 al 1738, Milan, 2000, no.43, p.182-185).

The Galleria rose to particular prominence under the patronage of Duke Cosimo III de Medici (1642-1723) in the late seventeenth century. It was also at this time that the Florentine sculptor, Giovanni Battista Foggini, was appointed Director of the Workshops (since 1694) (see S. Jervis, 'Pietra Dura Caskets in England', The Furniture History Society, vol. 43, London, 2007, p.246). Foggini oversaw every aspect of the works of art produced by the Galleria, which can be seen from the many preparatory drawings he produced, housed today in the Gabinetto Disegni e Stampe in the Uffizi, Florence, which included designs for caskets embellished with elaborate ormolu mounts and pietra dura plaques, which can be seen to relate to the present lot. However, the delicate rope motif to the lid, linking the highly-polished cabochon stones, appears to be a design that is unique.

The present casket incorporates a geometric design of inlaid lapis to the lid and sides, a motif more typically seen in Roman designs for pietra dura table-tops. However, it illustrates a move away from the Roman tradition of geometric composition in favour of more naturalistic motifs, seen here in the pietra dura panels inlaid in relief depicting birds perched on laurel branches (which are also found on the previously mentioned cabinet commissioned for the Elector Palatine). A further example of this motif can be found on a casket, attributed to Foggini, in the Kunstgewerbemuseum and another sold Christie’s, London, 5 July 2012, lot 13 for £657,250 with premium.