Pietra dura - gemstones that create images
Pietra dura (also pietrae durae) and Pachin Kari are terms associated with decorative stone art, known especially from the Italian and Mughal traditions (the Mughal architectural style originated from the fusion of Islamic, Persian and Indian architecture in the Mughal Empire in India in the 16th and 17th centuries).
It is debated whether this technique in Italy dates back to Florence or Pavia, as evidence of the hard stone inlay technique has been found in the Lombard capital of Certosa di Pavia.
Pietra dura = hard stone. This is a technique of inlay, where small pieces of semi-precious stones, such as lapis lazuli, agate, carnelian, jade, turquoise, amethyst , etc., are set into marble or other stone to create detailed images - flowers, gods, birds, ornaments. The stones are cut into slices and assembled into images, creating decorative art.
Various types of stones are used to create compositions, especially colored marbles and semi-precious stones, but also precious stones, mostly opaque with a hardness greater than 6 on the Mohs scale. In addition to stones, organic materials such as mother-of-pearl, coral, or ebony are used.
The technique itself, derived from the Roman opus sectile, appeared in Rome in the 16th century, but reached its full flowering in Florence, with the so-called Florentine mosaic – commesso or mosaico fiorentino. The famous workshop of that time was the Opificio delle pietre dure.
Mughal monuments that are decorated with the same technique include the Taj Mahal or the Agra Fort.
It is necessary to distinguish between two methods of inlaying with hard or quartz stones:
- The older and more widespread method, used in ancient times, involves inserting pieces of hard stone into cavities made in the base material. Stone, ivory, and even metal are used;
- Another method is to place the stones next to each other on a common base (e.g. slate).
We offer for sale a unique artistic "painting" created using the Florentine mosaic technique.
The author is the master of artistic stonemasonry , Mr. Vladimír Medviď , who uses this demanding and rare technique to breathe soul into natural stone.
Every detail is precisely polished and assembled with love and respect for tradition, nature and art. The result is a painting that combines the beauty of stone with the timeless elegance of the old masters.
