A pair of Italian scagliola circular panels, Tuscany, circa 1730, in the manner of Pietro Antonio Paolini

The Florentine scagliola panels and table tops were notably influenced by a growing interest in ornithology,especially following the publication of Olina's 17th century Uccelliera, overo, Discorso della Natura, e Propriétà di Diversi Uccelli. Additionally, the naturalistic designs and still lives of the time,for example those of the Italian artist Jacopo Ligozzi (1547-1627) contributed to this trend. The Tuscan scagliolist Pietro Antonio Palini, was renowned for his mastery of the scagliola technique, and these panels exhibit similarities to his work.

A similar bird on a fruiting branch is depicted on the table top signed in 1732 by the Tuscan scagliolist Pietre Antonio Paolini, who was renowned for his mastery of the scagliola technique, in the Museo degli Uffizi (inv. IMA 1499) and on a table top sold at Sotheby’s, London, Treasures, 3 July 2013, lot 16. A feature quite distinctive on the present panels are the thin branches issuing from the main stem, which we find similarly around the bird on a table top with the coat-of-arms of Admiral Fitzoy Lee and attributed to Paolini at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London (inv. W.6:1, 2-1933). A pair of similar panels worth noting were sold at Christie’s, London, 13th December 2018, lot 23 (illustrated A. M. Massinelli, Scagliola, l'arte della pietra di luna, Rome, 1997 p. 20).

The owner of the coat-of-arms on the back remains yet to be identified but certainly refers to a Scottish aristocrat - the arms include Douglas of Lochleven, Craufurd and Douglas.