Georges-Alphonse-Bonifacio Monbro, called Monbro Ainé 1807-1884 A gilt-bronze and pietra dura mounted ebony and ebonised center table, Paris, mid 19th century

the circular pietra dura top centered by a parrot amongst fruiting branches and surrounded by a floral garland, on four tapering and reeded supports headed by capitals and joined by a looped stretcher, the bronze molded border has been removed to reveal the mark MONBRO from the bronze master model

D. Ledoux-Lebard, Le Mobilier Français du XIX Siècle, Les Éditions de l’Amateur, Paris, 2000, pp. 492-493

A. M. Massinelli, The Gilbert Collection Hardstones, London, 2000, p. 80, no. 20 for a tabletop centered by a parrot among fruiting foliate

Pietre dure compositions illustrating various types of floral foliage and birds derive from the Florentine tradition started by Jacopo Ligozzi (1547-1632). His paintings were admired for scientific accuracy, which appealed to the late Renaissance fascination with the natural world.

During the 19th century, these pietre dure tabletops became very  fashionable. They were mostly manufactured at the Opificio degli Pietre Dure in Florence.

The firm of Monbro was established by Georges-Marie Monbro (1774-1841), who was born in Malta and lived for some time in England before returning to France around 1801. Most pieces are the work of Monbro's son (1807-1884), also called Georges, who usually stamped Monbro or Monbro Ainé. There is a group of furniture preserved in the Bowes Museum at Barnard Castle which was purchased directly from Paris by John Bowes himself between 1854 and 1856. Perhaps because of this contact and the father's connection with England, a shop was established at 2 Frith St. in London in 1870 as well as on their premises in Paris. Madame la Duchesse de Berry was one of his distinguished French clients. He received several Royal commissions, and exhibited at both the Exposition des produits de l'industrie française in 1844 and the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1855.