An Italian scagliola centre table in the manner of the Della Valle brothers, Leghorn circa 1840

the circular top centred on a view of St. Peter's Square, Rome, surrounded by views of Turin, Milan Cathedral, Lake Como, the Piazza dei Miracoli at Pisa, the Port of Genoa, St. Mark's Square Venice and the Isola Bella on Lago Maggiore, on a fossilised marble ground and a Spanish portor marble baluster base, the top broken and restored

Chatsworth Inventory, 1844, p. 103 in the Fourth State Room (now called The State Drawing Room);
Chatsworth Inventory, 1859, p. 86 in the Fifth State Room (now called The Great Chamber);
Chatsworth Inventory, 1892, p. 119 in the State Music Room; A 3ft. circular table, black marble, its top enamelled with views, Italian Cities etc. badly broken
Photographed in the State Music Room at Chatsworth, late 19th century; Chatsworth, The Derbyshire Home of the Dukes of Devonshire, pub. Derbyshire Countryside Ltd, p.15, Charles H. Wood (ed.);
Chatsworth Inventory, 1905, p. 44, no. 152 in The State Drawing Room;
'Chatsworth Derbyshire', Country Life, June 15 1907,  p. 873 in the State Music Room;

A very decorative table however the top has had extensive restorations. The repaired cracks are very visible and they cross each of the panels. The base is in generally good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

COMPARATIVE LITERATURE
Simon Chiarugi, Botteghe di Mobilieri in Toscana, Firenze, 1994, pp. 226-227;
Anna Maria Massinelli, Scagliola l'Arte della pietra di luna, 1997, Rome, p. 80-81.

The firm of the della Valle brothers specialised in scagliolia work. Whilst founded in Rome at the end of the end of the 18th century, the workshop transferred to Livorno circa 1805 to avoid the disturbances caused by the invasion of Italy by Napoleon.  It was Filippo della Valle who took over its direction at that time and his sons Pietro and Giuseppe who built up its reputation. By the time they assumed responsibility in 1838, the firm was producing work of a very high standard and was particularly well known for their ability to create topographical views in scagliola.

In 1851, the brothers exhibited at the Great Exhibition, where they were part of the Tuscan Section dedicated to Tuscany. The introduction to that section, draws attention to the quality of their work 'the artistical taste of the Tuscans is likewise perceptible in their wood-carvings, in their hard-stone mosaic, and in their scagliola and marqueterie works'.  

Prior to their success at the Great Exhibition, the firm was also highly praised for a panel showing a shipwreck off the coast of Spezia, presented at the Academia delle Belle Arti, in Florence in 1844. Perhaps their most celebrated work is a table by Pietro and Giuseppe Della Valle, in the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Nancy. It was commissioned by Victor Poirel, the French engineer responsible for work on the port of Livorno, and is decorated with views of the new port, illustrated by Chiarugi, op. cit.,  p. 226, fig. 292.

Chiarugi, op. cit., pp. 226-227, illustrates various examples by the Della Valle brothers,  including a circular top with views of Rome, p. 227, fig. 293 very similar to the offered lot. For another example with a view of St. Peter's, see the scagliola top sold at Sotheby's, London, 11th December, 1992, lot 381. For other examples by the Della Valle brothers with a view of Pisa, see Massinelli, op. cit., 1997, p. 80-81.

The encausto technique used on the top of this table traces its origins back to Roman times. The colours are mixed with wax and used on the wet scagliola ground, similar to fresco technique. They produced an effect similar to that achieved by micromosaics produced in the Vatican workshops from in the late 18th century.

The table is first recorded at Chatsworth in 1844 standing in the fourth state room (now the State Drawing Room) having probably been acquired by the 6th Duke shortly before in Italy. The Italian views would have been ones familiar to him from his travels and the choices of subjects may well have been his.