Casket in semiprecious stones made by Giovanni Ugolini, Florence, circa 1880

An exquisite gilded bronze casket, crafted by master mosaicist Giovanni Ugolini in his Florentine workshop at Via dei Fossi 11, around 1880. The casket is enriched with five extraordinary black marble plaques (the largest on the lid and four smaller ones on the sides), featuring exquisite polychrome inlays of semi-precious stones such as lapis lazuli, jasper, amethyst, malachite, turquoise, and more. These stones were expertly selected for their color, hue, and characteristics, creating these compositions with extraordinary precision and vibrant color, appearing surprisingly lifelike.

The casket is lockable, allowing access to its interior, where a refined pink satin lining enhances its elegance and most likely suggests it was once owned by a woman.

An authentic example of the excellence of Florentine mosaic art, one of Italy's most prestigious decorative traditions.

Excellent condition (possibly minor signs of wear consistent with its age).

Box dimensions: Width 15 cm, depth 10 cm, height 10 cm.

Historical Profile:

Established as an artisan workshop specializing in semiprecious stone and marble inlays, the Giovanni Ugolini company was founded in 1868 at Via dei Fossi 11. Giovanni, who learned the art of Florentine inlay at the Opificio della Pietre Dure in Florence, was a draughtsman and stain artist. Using the tones and nuances of the vast chromatic range of each semiprecious stone, he masterfully created still lifes, Tuscan landscapes, flowers, animals, and human figures. The business moved to its current location in 1900, but the artisan workshop, located in the adjacent rooms overlooking Chiasso degli Altoviti, remained active for a long time. Emilio, Giovanni's son, introduced this Florentine art to the world and received several awards for his splendid works in semiprecious stone inlay. Over the years, the shop has transformed into a veritable gallery, where you can admire masterfully decorated tables, paintings, boxes, and various objects. Mrs. Maria Luisa Antonelli, the last great-granddaughter of Giovanni Ugolini, is the current owner of the oldest business in the sector.