Two within circular giltwood frames with foliate borders, the other two within giltwood moulded frames, depicting coastal and river scenes with buildings, bridges and boats, the stones including Arnese and verde antico, in later frames
The larger plaques: 6¹⁄₂ in. (16.5 cm.) diameter
The larger including frames: 8¹⁄₂ in. (21.5 cm.) diameter
The smaller plaques: 3¹⁄₂ in. (9 cm.) high; 4¹⁄₂ in. (11.5 cm.) wide
The smaller including frames: 7 in. (17.5 cm.) high; 8 in. (20 cm.) wide

Anonymous sale; Christie's, South Kensington, 13 March 2012, lot 327.
Anonymous sale; Christie's, Paris, 7 November 2012, lot 335.

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Lot Essay

The beautiful background of these plaques is a stone found in the River Arno in Florence called Alberese and part of a group of stones known generally as pietra paesina. Mineral deposits in these stones form enchanting patterns that were used by the Florentine lapidaries as trees or other natural features in pietra dura plaques. Employed much more rarely than the black Belgian marble or paragone di Fiandra background of many Florentine plaques, this background was particularly prized in the 17th century and was used principally for landscape or hunting scenes.