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Antique Victorian Ashford Pietra Dura Marble Obelisk 19th Century
Sold by Regent Antiques
sold SA761964
Sorry, but this item has been sold.
Regent Antiques

Regent Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Sep 2016
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Id #SA761964
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Antique Victorian Ashford Pietra Dura Marble Obelisk 19th Century

19th century
Sold 22 July 2025 · Regent Antiques
This “Antique Victorian Ashford Pietra Dura Marble Obelisk 19th Century ” found a buyer.

It was listed by Regent Antiques. Sold pieces stay on Sellingantiques as a record of what has passed through, and the next one is rarely far away.

Description

This is a wonderful Derbyshire Ashford pietra dura obelisk, inlaid with lillies, circa 1880 in date.

The obelisk is beautifully inlaid with a Pietra Dura of white flowers and malachite leaves.

This delightful object will look beautiful on display in any room in your home.

Provenance:

The Collection of Sir Jeremy Lever.

Condition:

In excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 48 x Width 18 x Depth 18

Dimensions in inches:

Height 18.9 x Width 7.1 x Depth 7.1

Pietra dura is a term for the inlay technique of using cut and fitted, highly polished coloured stones to create images. It is considered a decorative art.

Pietre dure is an Italian plural meaning "hard rocks" or hardstones; the singular pietra dura is also encountered in Italian. In Italian, but not in English, the term embraces all gem engraving and hardstone carving, which is the artistic carving of three-dimensional objects in semi-precious stone, normally from a single piece, for example in Chinese jade.

The traditional convention in English has been to use the singular pietra dura just to denote multi-colored inlay work. However, in recent years there has been a trend to use pietre dure as a term for the same thing, but not for all of the techniques it covers, in Italian.

But the title of a 2008 exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Art of the Royal Court: Treasures in Pietre Dure from the Palaces of Europe used the full Italian sense of the term, probably because they thought that it had greater brand recognition. The material on the website speaks of objects such as a vase in lapis lazuli as being examples of "hardstone carving (pietre dure)"

The Victoria & Albert Museum in London uses both versions on its website, but uses pietra dura. "A method of inlaying coloured marbles or semi-precious stones into a stone base, often in geometric or flower patterns...."

Giovanni Montelatici (1864-1930) was an Italian Florentine artist whose brilliant work has been distributed across the world by tourists and collectors. Owners of Giovanni's work included Donald Trump.

Our reference: 09382

Date of Manufacture

Regent Antiques has dated this Marble Mosaic Obelisk to the 1880s.

Physical Dimensions
Height
48cm (18.90")
Width
18cm (7.09")
Depth
18cm (7.09")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA761964
Dealers Internal Reference
09382
Description
This is a wonderful Derbyshire Ashford pietra dura obelisk, inlaid with lillies, circa 1880 in date.

The obelisk is beautifully inlaid with a Pietra Dura of white flowers and malachite leaves.

This delightful object will look beautiful on display in any room in your home.

fig 1. A dark stone obelisk featuring inlaid floral motifs in white and green marble on a stepped base.
fig 1. Antique Victorian Ashford Pietra Dura Marble Obelisk 19th Century

Provenance:

The Collection of Sir Jeremy Lever.

Condition:

In excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 48 x Width 18 x Depth 18

Dimensions in inches:

Height 18.9 x Width 7.1 x Depth 7.1

“
Pietra dura is a term for the inlay technique of using cut and fitted, highly polished coloured stones to create images.
Regent Antiques

It is considered a decorative art.

fig 2. A dark stone obelisk featuring inlaid floral motifs in white and green marble on a stepped base.
fig 2. Antique Victorian Ashford Pietra Dura Marble Obelisk 19th Century

Pietre dure is an Italian plural meaning "hard rocks" or hardstones; the singular pietra dura is also encountered in Italian. In Italian, but not in English, the term embraces all gem engraving and hardstone carving, which is the artistic carving of three-dimensional objects in semi-precious stone, normally from a single piece, for example in Chinese jade.

fig 3. A dark stone obelisk featuring inlaid floral motifs in white and green marble on a stepped base.
fig 3. Antique Victorian Ashford Pietra Dura Marble Obelisk 19th Century

The traditional convention in English has been to use the singular pietra dura just to denote multi-colored inlay work. However, in recent years there has been a trend to use pietre dure as a term for the same thing, but not for all of the techniques it covers, in Italian.

fig 4. A dark stone obelisk featuring inlaid floral motifs in white and green marble on a stepped base.
fig 4. Antique Victorian Ashford Pietra Dura Marble Obelisk 19th Century

But the title of a 2008 exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Art of the Royal Court: Treasures in Pietre Dure from the Palaces of Europe used the full Italian sense of the term, probably because they thought that it had greater brand recognition. The material on the website speaks of objects such as a vase in lapis lazuli as being examples of "hardstone carving (pietre dure)"

fig 5. A dark stone obelisk featuring inlaid floral motifs in white and green marble on a stepped base.
fig 5. Antique Victorian Ashford Pietra Dura Marble Obelisk 19th Century

The Victoria & Albert Museum in London uses both versions on its website, but uses pietra dura. "A method of inlaying coloured marbles or semi-precious stones into a stone base, often in geometric or flower patterns...."

fig 6. A dark stone obelisk featuring inlaid floral motifs in white and green marble on a stepped base.
fig 6. Antique Victorian Ashford Pietra Dura Marble Obelisk 19th Century

Giovanni Montelatici (1864-1930) was an Italian Florentine artist whose brilliant work has been distributed across the world by tourists and collectors. Owners of Giovanni's work included Donald Trump.

Our reference: 09382

Date of Manufacture

Regent Antiques has dated this Marble Mosaic Obelisk to the 1880s.

Height
48cm (18.90")
Width
18cm (7.09")
Depth
18cm (7.09")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA761964
Dealers Internal Ref
09382
Regent Antiques
Regent Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Sep 2016

We specialise in english and continental furniture, silver, porcelain and decorative items.

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Regent Antiques Profile Page

Trade Associations

Regent Antiques is a registered member of LAPADA  CINOA

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SAVE
A dark stone obelisk featuring inlaid floral motifs in white and green marble on a stepped base. SOLD6+ MONTHS AGO
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Archive I A dark stone obelisk featuring inlaid floral motifs in white and green marble on a stepped base. SOLD6+ MONTHS AGO

Antique Victorian Ashford Pietra Dura Marble Obelisk 19th Century

Archive II A dark stone obelisk featuring inlaid floral motifs in white and green marble on a stepped base. View II
Archive III A dark stone obelisk featuring inlaid floral motifs in white and green marble on a stepped base. View III
Archive IV A dark stone obelisk featuring inlaid floral motifs in white and green marble on a stepped base. View IV
Archive V A dark stone obelisk featuring inlaid floral motifs in white and green marble on a stepped base. View V
Archive VI A dark stone obelisk featuring inlaid floral motifs in white and green marble on a stepped base. View VI
Archive VII A dark stone obelisk featuring inlaid floral motifs in white and green marble on a stepped base. View VII
Archive VIII A dark stone obelisk featuring inlaid floral motifs in white and green marble on a stepped base. View VIII
Archive IX A dark stone obelisk featuring inlaid floral motifs in white and green marble on a stepped base. View IX
Enlarged Archival View
Location
Manor Warehouse
318 Green Lanes
London
N4 1BX
United Kingdom
Verified Since Sep 2016
Items For Sale 652
Items Sold 2,711
Regent Antiques
Regent Antiques
Verified Since Sep 2016
View Dealer Info
Location: Manor Warehouse, 318 Green Lanes, London, N4 1BX, United Kingdom
Verified
Sep 2016
For Sale
652
Sold
2,711
A dark stone obelisk featuring inlaid floral motifs in white and green marble on a stepped base.
Antique Victorian Ashford Pietra Dura Marble Obelisk 19th Century
Ref: SA761964
A dark stone obelisk featuring inlaid floral motifs in white and green marble on a stepped base.
Detail View 1
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Archival Detail
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Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectDecorative Objects
  • Period19th century
  • StyleVictorian & Gothic
  • MaterialLimestone, Marble, Mixed Hardstones
  • ColourBlack
  • MotifsFloral pietra dura inlay, Stepped architectural base, Tapering shaft
  • SizeH 48 cm (19 in) x W 18 cm (7 in) x D 18 cm (7 in)

Ashford black marble refers to a dark limestone quarried in Derbyshire, England, which takes a high polish and became particularly popular during the Victorian era for decorative objects and architectural inlay work.

Petra dura involves the precise hand-cutting and fitting of highly polished coloured stones, such as malachite, lapis lazuli, and various marbles, into a contrasting base stone, typically black marble or slate.

Authentic pieces typically exhibit hand-cut stone tesserae with microscopic gaps filled with black mastic, natural mineral inclusions, and age-related wear to the polished stone surfaces rather than modern resin casting.

An obelisk adds verticality and architectural interest when placed upon a stack of books on a coffee table, a mantelpiece, or within a bookcase alongside modern ceramics.

Clean polished marble exclusively with a soft, dry microfibre cloth to remove dust, avoiding all water, acidic solutions, and chemical cleaning agents that can etch or dull the historical surface.
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