Ref. 947

Exceptional Byzantine style large gueridon

Venice – Italy
Circa 1860

Height : 78 cm (30,7 in.) ; Diameter : 145 cm (57 in.)

Impressive Byzantine style Venetian center table made in local massive wood, entirely decorated with bone inlay. The octogonal top decorated with Venetian geometrical motifs and spirals stands on a central gadrooned carved foot and eight stylized bone inlaid dolphins. The all reposing on a poly-lobed base and eight lion paws.

The Byzantine and therefore Oriental style much present in Venice through the ages is due to the historical links between Venice and the East since its origins. These arabesques and further geometric patterns are characteristics of the « Cosmati » art, which originally is a decoration made of polychrome marble inlays, invented by Roman marble workers and widespread in Italy since the twelfth century. One of the most wonderful examples is to be seen in Basilica San Marco in Venice.