This wonderful Italian tabletop is crafted from the popular Baroque substance scagliola, and features a charming design of playing cards and exotic birds.
This beautiful Baroque period Italian tabletop is crafted from scagliola. Scagliola was hugely popular as a mode of decoration during the Baroque period, particularly in Italy. It is a composite substance made from plaster mixed with glue and various dyes. Scagliola is often used to imitate fine marbles and pietra dura inlays, though the technique allows for the production of intricate designs—as in the present example.
The tabletop features an intricately designed depiction of playing cards, exotic birds, leaves, and decorative friezes, all above a black background.