Pietra Dura

Pietra Dura, or hardstone, is a type of semi-precious stone inlay art that originated in Florence, Italy during the Renaissance. Among the greatest sponsors of pietra dura, were the Medici family. Their tomb in St Lorenzo is entirely decorated with semi-precious stones.

It is characterised by the use of colourful, semi-precious stones cut into small pieces and arranged into intricate designs of flora, fauna, vases and birds and typically presented as table tops. During the Grand Tour, a period of time in the 17th and 18th centuries when the gentry traveled to Italy to experience its history and culture, it became increasingly coveted and many examples were acquired for the travelers’ private collections.