An Italian 19th century neoclassical scagliola table top

Decorated with leaves and acorns in the outer band, and surrounding a central figure in a white circular space, this fine table surface was made in Italy in the nineteenth century. The central element, with a beautiful figure in flowing Classical drapery, is designed to imitate ancient Greek vase-painting, especially red-figure painting against a white-ground. Neoclassical in its approach, the outer band encompasses and complements the light central space, where a female appears to glide whistfully across the frame. Scagliola is a type of plaster decoration, rich in possibilities, that was often used to imitate other art forms in particular precious stones, and here it imitates Ancient Greek painting with great success.