Italy, second half of the 19th century Marble table top decorated in the centre with a mosaic of concentric friezes with vegetal and geometric decoration. There is a slight difference in level between the medallion and the rest of the decoration, which could indicate that the work on the medallion predates the rest of the mosaic decoration. The posture of the divinity and the workmanship of the hands suggest a Mannerist style. Micromosaics are true masterpieces of craftsmanship, as impressive in the 18th and 19th centuries as they are today. Inspired by the art of ancient mosaics, Italian workshops in the post-Baroque period perfected this technique, using tiny tesserae assembled with extreme precision. Highly prized by travellers on the Grand Tour, these works often depicted Italian monuments, particularly Roman ones, and were ideal souvenirs - decorative, durable and typically Roman. Because of their weight and the time needed to make them, small objects such as jewellery and snuffboxes were more common, while large pieces such as table tops were rare and highly sought-after. Diam. 120 cm / Thickness 2.8 cm Italy, second half of the 19th century Italy, second half of the 19th century. A marble and micromosaic table top.