18th Century Grand Tour "Two Monks with Dinner" Pietra Dura Plaque miniature It's crafted in 18 karat

It's crafted in 18 karat gold and modelled after the infamous fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) - albeit with black instead of white spots

The stones have survived remarkably well

with openworked backs and silver settings

Quite remarkably

18th Century Grand Tour "Two Monks with Dinner" Pietra Dura Plaque miniature It's crafted in 18 karatDATE: 18th Century, c. 1720 I mistook this for a painting at first.. but it's actually the most incredible Florentine Pietra Dura (literally hard stone) mosaic portraying two monks delighting in the food from a copper pot. The execution, the details and selection of stone (particularly depicting the faces and the plate of charcuterie), is utterly breathtaking with seemingly seamless edges where the stones have been meticulously cut to fit around each