Florence, Italy, c. 1905
Stamped "F. Quentin & C., Firenze" on the reverse of the mirror

A beautiful antique pietra dura plaque with inset mirror, dating from c. 1905 and made in Florence. 

The photographs do little justice to this piece. The work in the flowers, its petals and stems is finely balanced, with great attention to the gradation of the colours and the soft shading of light and dark in the flower heads. Notice how delicately the blue lapis has been used in the flowers on the right. At the top of the panel, the birds and butterflies are bright and beautiful, giving the plaque a jolly summertime quality. 

The frame is recent but really sets the plaque off beautifully. Note that it has also been re-polished recently to give it an “as new” finish, although the stamp of "F. Quentin & C., Firenze" on the reverse of the mirror gives a more accurate indication of its age.