20,174  PAGES BROWSED TODAY PAGES TODAY 36  ANTIQUES UPLOADED TODAY NEW ARRIVALS
ID #SA1220015
FOR SALE
£475
Email
Save
A Large Antique Pietra Dura Specimen Paper Weight in Grand Tour Style.
Hobson May Collection
for sale €556     $603
£475
Hobson May Collection

Hobson May Collection

Sellingantiques Verified Since Oct 2015
View Dealers Stock Page
  • About Us
    Decorative furniture and accessories from the 18th to 20th century
Id #SA1220015
PDF SHARE
SAVE

A Large Antique Pietra Dura Specimen Paper Weight in Grand Tour Style.

19th century
Description

This impressive large rectangular desk weight is inlaid in the Grand Tour style with egg shaped lozenges including malachite, carnelian, onyx and other specimen stones. These are set in a black marble field, possibly Ashford. The generous dimensions of this antique paper weight allow the wide variety of colourful stones to be shown to full advantage. There is a very minor nibble to one corner, this is hard to detect and does not detract from the appeal of this unusual Victorian piece.

When polished, the black slate mined in the Ashford area of Derbyshire closely resembled marble and due to this, the area became a centre for a localised industry involving miners, craftsmen and retail units. Inlaid in the Italian Piera Dura style, it was very popular in the late 19h century being incorporated in both practical and decorative objects.

This stunning example of 19th craftsmanship is a highly decorative item to display and add to a collection.

C. 1880

Ref: D1116

Length: 8" 20 cm

Width: 4.5" 11.5 cm

Declaration

Hobson May Collection has dated this Pietra Dura Specimen Paperweight to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1220015
Dealers Internal Reference
D1116
Description
This impressive large rectangular desk weight is inlaid in the Grand Tour style with egg shaped lozenges including malachite, carnelian, onyx and other specimen stones. These are set in a black marble field, possibly Ashford.
The generous dimensions of this antique paper weight allow the wide variety of colourful stones to be shown to full advantage.
Hobson May Collection

There is a very minor nibble to one corner, this is hard to detect and does not detract from the appeal of this unusual Victorian piece.

fig 1. A rectangular black marble paperweight inlaid with twenty oval polished stone specimens of various colours arranged in a grid pattern.
fig 1. A Large Antique Pietra Dura Specimen Paper Weight in Grand Tour Style.

When polished, the black slate mined in the Ashford area of Derbyshire closely resembled marble and due to this, the area became a centre for a localised industry involving miners, craftsmen and retail units. Inlaid in the Italian Piera Dura style, it was very popular in the late 19h century being incorporated in both practical and decorative objects.

This stunning example of 19th craftsmanship is a highly decorative item to display and add to a collection.

C. 1880

Ref: D1116

Length: 8" 20 cm

Width: 4.5" 11.5 cm

Date of Manufacture

Hobson May Collection has dated this Pietra Dura Specimen Paperweight to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1220015
Dealers Internal Ref
D1116
Hobson May Collection
Hobson May Collection
Sellingantiques verified Since Oct 2015

Decorative furniture and accessories from the 18th to 20th century

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Hobson May Collection Profile Page

PDF SHARE
SAVE
A rectangular black marble paperweight inlaid with twenty oval polished stone specimens of various colours arranged in a grid pattern.
1 / 4
Archive I A rectangular black marble paperweight inlaid with twenty oval polished stone specimens of various colours arranged in a grid pattern.

A Large Antique Pietra Dura Specimen Paper Weight in Grand Tour Style.

Archive II A rectangular black marble paperweight inlaid with twenty oval polished stone specimens of various colours arranged in a grid pattern. View II
Archive III A rectangular black marble paperweight inlaid with twenty oval polished stone specimens of various colours arranged in a grid pattern. View III
Archive IV A rectangular black marble paperweight inlaid with twenty oval polished stone specimens of various colours arranged in a grid pattern. View IV
Enlarged Archival View
Location
Cheshire
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/hobson
Verified Since Oct 2015
Items For Sale 105
Items Sold 819
Hobson May Collection
Hobson May Collection
Verified Since Oct 2015
View Dealer Info
Location: Cheshire, United Kingdom
Verified
Oct 2015
For Sale
105
Sold
819
A rectangular black marble paperweight inlaid with twenty oval polished stone specimens of various colours arranged in a grid pattern.
A Large Antique Pietra Dura Specimen Paper Weight in Grand Tour Style.
Ref: SA1220015
A rectangular black marble paperweight inlaid with twenty oval polished stone specimens of various colours arranged in a grid pattern.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Archival Detail
Every single antique dealer on our platform is individually approved by our internal team. We verify their professional trade history, ethical standards, and photographic quality to ensure a secure, high-standard buying environment. Upon joining, every dealer agrees to a strict 9-point code of conduct. While issues can occasionally arise, our dealers typically resolve them swiftly and directly with the buyer. In fact, since our founding in 2002, Sellingantiques has only had to step in to help resolve an issue on roughly five occasions—a true testament to the quality of our dealers and their dedication to your happiness.
Our dealers are highly experienced in packing and shipping fragile, high-value antiques. Because you are in direct contact with the dealer, you will be able to easily go through all available shipping and insurance options together to ensure your item arrives safely.
Antiques are the ultimate green purchase. By choosing historical pieces over newly manufactured goods, you completely eliminate the carbon footprint of modern mass production while preserving exceptional, timeless craftsmanship.

Pietra dura is an inlay technique using cut and fitted highly polished coloured stones to create images or patterns, popularised in Florence during the Renaissance and widely acquired as Grand Tour souvenirs during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

These items typically feature a base of black marble or slate inlaid with decorative semi-precious stone specimens such as malachite, jasper, agate, lapis lazuli, and various geological marbles.

Authentic period pieces display precise hand-cut stone joinery, natural variations in stone veining, light surface wear consistent with age, and often felt or baize backing on the underside.

Position the piece atop a stack of design books, on an executive desk, or within a styled shelf display alongside modern brass or ceramic objects for textural contrast.

Dust regularly with a soft, dry microfibre cloth and avoid liquid chemicals or abrasive cleaners, which can dull the polish or loosen organic adhesives over time.
items
Add keywords to the filter
Price
£100
£250000
Era
Movements
Material
Origin
Stock Location
Freshness
Online Payments
Categories