TABLETOP WITH PEARL COLLAR ITALY, 20th century Marble... Lot 18

TABLETOP WITH PEARL COLLAR ITALY, 20th century Marble and polychrome hard stone inlays, including lapis lazuli, sienna, chalcedony, jasper 140 x 91 cm This tabletop symbolizes the Vanities and the ephemeral beauty of nature, an essential theme of Medici Florence. It presents a rich decoration ordered around a pearl necklace, held by two birds and floating ribbons. It is inspired by a creation of the Opificio delle pietre dure in Florence, after a drawing attributed to the Florentine artist Jacopo Ligozzi (1547-1627), famous for his naturalistic compositions. The original work is exhibited at the Museum National of Natural History, in the gallery of mineralogy (fig.1). The birds are surrounded by a garden of flowers, foliage and fruit. Numerous insects hide in this abundant vegetation.