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A Maltese pietra dura table top attributed to Joseph Darmanin & Sons

Offered by: Wick Antiques LTD

Description
A Maltese pietra dura table top attributed to Joseph Darmanin & Sons, the circular top intricately inlaid with a central scene depicting a saddled chestnut horse tethered to a date palm tree, within concentric bands of grey and Nero Portoro marble and a broad floral border of flowers and butterflies in specimen marbles inlaid onto a white ground, raised on a vintage chrome eight legged table. Top Maltese, circa 1880, base English, circa 1950.

Footnote: From 16th century Malta there was a strong tradition of work in marble mosaics, especially in the elaborate tombstones of the Knights Hospitallers of St John. Under British rule from 1800, the workshops began making marble table tops for British visitors similar to those sought by the original Grand Tourists in Italy. J. Darmanin and Sons were the best-known marble-working firm and traded from the 1800s to the 1880s. They exhibited at several international exhibitions including the Great Exhibition in London in 1851. A superb table by J Darmanin with a very similar horse and palm tree decoration can be found in ‘The Royal Collection’. Other examples include the pair of ‘Londonderry’ pietra dura table tops stamped J Darmanin which also feature the horse and palm tree motif.

More Information

Origin:	England
Period:	1950-1979
Materials:	chrome, marble
Condition:	Good.
Creation Date:	Circa 1950
Styles / Movements:	Traditional
Incollect Reference #:	588393

Dimensions

H.	29 in;	Diam.	36.5 in;
H.	73.66 cm;	Diam.	92.71 cm;

Message from Seller:

Wick Antiques was established by Charles Wallrock in the early 1980s. Having grown up in the Antiques world Charles developed an extensive wealth of knowledge. Starting out as a ‘man with a van’ he quickly gained a good reputation and embarked on a longstanding relationship with Harrods. He was later joined by his wife, Caroline Wallrock. Caroline having completed a Persian degree, went on to study at Christie’s fine art and then joined Sotheby’s specializing in Islamic and Japanese works of art