Slab
1600-1699 (made)
Place of origin |
Table top of black slate, inlaid with scagliola in tones of off-white, ochre red, green and yellow; the yellowish tonality may be the result of a discoloured varnish. The design, read from end to end, is centred on a large oval cartouche with mottled grey fill colour, flanked by two smaller cartouches with red and white marbling. Above and below the central cartouche is a symmetrical candelabrum from which spring heavy scrolls and stems, with birds (some holding a worm), grotesque birds, and at each end a swag of fruit. Along both long sides run fleshy C scrolls.
There are various small chips and losses.
There are various small chips and losses.
Object details
Category | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Slate, with scagliola |
Brief description | Table Top; Italian 1600-1699 |
Physical description | Table top of black slate, inlaid with scagliola in tones of off-white, ochre red, green and yellow; the yellowish tonality may be the result of a discoloured varnish. The design, read from end to end, is centred on a large oval cartouche with mottled grey fill colour, flanked by two smaller cartouches with red and white marbling. Above and below the central cartouche is a symmetrical candelabrum from which spring heavy scrolls and stems, with birds (some holding a worm), grotesque birds, and at each end a swag of fruit. Along both long sides run fleshy C scrolls. There are various small chips and losses. |
Dimensions |
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Gallery label | TABLE-TOP
ITALIAN (Probably Florence); 17th century
Slate inlaid with scagliola
7828-1861(ca. 1994) |
Object history | 'Slab. Slate. Inlaid with scagliola in imitation of Florentine Mosaic. Italian. 17th century. Bought 20l. (Transferred to Building Collection).' [c.1861] Permantly transferred from SCP to FWK 93/461 Displayed in Gallery 2b (Europe 1600-1800) from c1970 to 2011 [Not included in: John Hungerford Pollen, Ancient and Modern Furniture & Woodwork in the South Kensington Museum, described with an introduction by John Hungerford Pollen, (London, 1874)] |
Historical context | On the history of scagliola see: Arte Lombarda (periodical) XI, 2, 1966, pp. 225-230 David Hayles, The magic of scagliola (Oxford, c2014) |
Collection | |
Accession number | 7828-1861 |
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Record created | June 24, 2009 |
Record URL |
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