Superb quality Maltese pietre dure marble centre table

A superb quality mid 19th century Maltese pietre dure marble centre table attributed to Joseph Darmanin & Sons - ADDITIONAL IMAGES CAN BE VIEWED BELOW:

The table top is intricately inlaid with a central scene depicting a horse infront of a palm tree, this central section surrounded by various circular bands of specimen marbles and semi precious stones creating mosaic and geometric patterns with an outer inlaid band of oval, square and circular shapes.

This leads down to the turned, rouge marble column base with an octagonal plinth below with concealed castors, this being unusual to find such a table retaining the original marble base.

A superb marble table with a very similar horse and palm tree decoration can be found in ‘The Royal Collection’ owned by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by J Darmanin: link to this table as follows:

https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/collection/20591/table-top

Other examples found include the pair of ‘Londonderry' pietra dura table tops stamped J Darmanin which are also inlaid with the horse and palm tree decoration. 

James Darmanin & Sons traded from around 1800-1880 and exhibited at several international exhibitions including The Great Exhibition in London, 1851.

Malta has a long history of mosaic marble techniques going back to 1530 onwards when elaborate tombstones were commissioned. Later when Malta was under British rule from 1800 the marble workshops created table tops in the Italian Style similar to those found on The Grand Tour for wealthy British tourists to purchase.

Provenance: this table came from a property previously owned by The Ministry of Justice, The Judges House ‘Bracondale’, Norwich, Norfolk.

This marble table is in excellent original condition, is of stable construction and can go straight into a home or collection.