This cabinet is probably of Northern European origin, and set with Florentine hardstone mosaics made in the so-called commesso di pietre dure technique. It is one of two pictorial techniques in stone, the other being intarsia (inlay). A pietre dure mosaic is created by cutting slices of semiprecious stones that are cut to shape and assembled face down. In a second step the mosaic is consolidated with resin that is poured over the back and finally backed with a slate tablet.

Hardstone Mosaics (Commessi di pietre dure)
The history of this technique goes back to the sixteenth century. In 1588 Ferdinand de' Medici established the Grand Ducal workshop in Florence, which supported and patronised the specialised art of hardstone mosaics. Many craftsmen were trained in Florence before setting up studios around Italy. Pietre dure mosaics were produced in Florence, Milan and Rome; other European cities, such as Prague also became centre of production later on.

Soon craftsmen were attempting to create the perfect 'stone paintings' through the clever exploitation of the natural variations in pigment of the stones. By the seventeenth century when the plaques for this cabinet were made, the technique was highly refined and allowed the creation of figural pictures. They sometimes included transparent stones, such as those used for the cherries on the two outer pictures one the base row of panels.

A video showing the creation of a hardstone mosaic panel is available on the web site of the Victoria and Albert Museum on: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/videos/m/video-making-a-pietre-dure-panel/

It is likely that the panels were purchased by a traveller and taken home to be set in a cabinet made by a local craftsman. Florentine pietre dure panels were sought-after and luxurious souvenirs and can be found on pieces of furniture from all over Europe. The subject-matter of the panels of this cabinet - birds, flowers and even the fountain in a courtyard - are typical for Florentine work of the period, as is the black background. These generic motifs were often combined with other details specific to the patron. A hidden panel placed on the interior of the central door depicts St Catherina of Alexandria, a fourth-century Christian martyr. The panel seems to be inspired by a painting by the artist Artemisia Gentileschi (1593 - c.1654) which has resided in the Uffizi Gallery since its creation in 1615-1617.

Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.