An Italian scagliola table top, Florence, second half 19th century

The design for the present scagliola table is directly inspired by a pietre dure table top from the Arthur and Rosalinde Gilbert collection at the Victoria & Albert, Museum (acc. no. LOAN:GILBERT.939-2008). The interwoven foliage and flowers centred by a parrot represent a popular subject in Florentine pietre dure and scagliola table tops promoted back in the early 17th century by the Italian painter and designer Jacopo Ligozzi (1547-1626) whose influences on Florentine pietre dure workshops and the fashion for images with birds and flowers are therefore evident across the present scagliola table top. Much like Ligozzi achieved through his drawings, the composition of the table top succeeds to emulate nature made possible here by the impressive skills of the top's maker, thus proving the merit of the scagliola technique rivaling that of pietra dura. 

Jacopo Ligozzi was the court painter of the Medicis and worked not only in close connections with the famous naturalist Ulisse Aldrovandi, but also prepare designs and cartoons for the production of the Opificio. His drawings were, for example, the basis for the design of the altar in the Church of Ognissanti built under the patronage of the Bardi. Most importantly, his drawings were the source of inspiration for the fiorante, the painters specialized in depicting flowers and in charge of supplying designs to the Galleria dei Lavori. The demand for these panels was so popular that the manufacture had a stock of these panels destined to be mounted on cabinets, caskets and other furniture pieces, much of which were bought individually by visitors to bring back and have them mounted as they wished in their home country.