19th century Cabinet casket Ebonized wood decorated with polychrome hard stone inlay and gilded bronzes

early nineteenth century
Casket cabinet
Ebonized wood decorated with polychrome hard stone inlay and gilded bronzes, H 20 x W 29,5 x D 25,5

The casket, made in the 19th century, is a refined example of cabinet-making and semiprecious stone inlay. It stands out for its geometric structure and the use of fine materials, enriched by decorative elements in gilded bronze.
The ebonized wooden structure gives elegance and visual depth to the structure; arranged in geometric panels according to the Florentine mosaic technique there are different types of polychrome hard stones. Decorative elements at the corners and gilded bronze appliques complete the decoration with elegance and preciousness.
Among the hard stones present, it is worth mentioning the lapis lazuli, of an intense blue color, visible in a hexagonal shape on the side panels. Amethyst is also used in the upper part of the lid, with its characteristic purple hue and white veins. Red and green jasper is present as a central inlay on the lid. In the decorative side panels, used as a background, there is black and white granite, while onyx and agate, with chromatic effects that vary from brown to gray, are set in the lateral motifs. The casket is part of the tradition of Florentine mosaic, an art developed in Florence starting from the Renaissance and still highly appreciated in the 19th century. This technique consisted of cutting and setting hard stones to obtain pictorial and decorative effects, a specialty of the Florentine workshops, where the working of hard stones had a great tradition.
Similar collectibles were particularly appreciated and sought after by travellers on the Grand Tour, who loved to bring home mementos of their journeys spent among the wonders of art.