The Art of Stone

An incredible insight into the beauty and artistry of pictures created from cut-and-polished natural stones

The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection celebrates some of the most beautiful objects ever made, many in precious materials and often on a small scale. Focusing on 50 exquisite works from the collection, this beautiful little book showcases the decorative art of creating inlay pictorial illusions, small-scale carvings, snuffboxes, and more in cut-and-polished natural stones, often incorporating the widely known technique of pietre dure. Demonstrating remarkable skill and ingenuity, many of the works were commissioned by the powerful Medici family and royal families across Europe as symbols of their power and prestige. With detailed photography and extended captions, The Art of Stone explores the fascinating interplay of craftsmanship with the natural beauty of stones such as amethyst, lapis lazuli, and jasper.