Italian, Florence, late 17th/early 18th century

Scagliola, derived from scaglia, the Italian word for chips, is made by combining stone powder and pigments and vigorously polishing them to imitate the fine, rare materials, such as marble, ivory and colored hardstones, which were popular, but expensive, media for decorative objects from the 16th through the 18th centuries.

The present panel could have been a part of a larger furnishing, such as a tabletop or cabinet, and compositions such as this, with a parrot encircled by foliage, were popular subjects in Florentine pietre dure and scagliola objects.

A pair of Florentine, late 17th century panels, one of which is nearly identical to the present work, was at sold at Christie's London on December 12, 2018 (lot 23).