Italian. Nineteenth Century. Identical terms to the present example exist in the magnificent Borghese Villa in Rome, occupying prominent positions in both the main hall and the fourth room of the gallery. Although executed in different marble to the current piece the extremely fine bronze elements appear to be from the same cast as those on the present term. The Castle of Rosenholm in Jutland was built for Vice Chancellor Joergen Rosenkrantz and was completed in 1570. It remains in the private ownership of the Rosenkrantz family and is acknowledged as one of the most beautiful and best preserved renaissance castles in Europe.

The Tops Probably Italian. Eighteenth Century. The Bases English. Nineteenth Century. The present pair of tabletops is a fine example of the use of legno silicizzato, or silicified wood, in furniture. These fossils, which usually date from the late Triassic period, were prized for having the strength typical of hardstones, along with the well-preserved and attractive appearance of the plants they originally were. The extremely slow process by which the wood is silicified, replacing the organic cells with minerals over millions of years, results in an opaque or translucent stone with a recognizable grain pattern, in colors ranging from white to shades of brown or green. The unmistakable wood patterns seen in specimens of legno silicizzato undoubtedly contributed to their use in early furniture, for scientific interest as well as for their decorative appeal. One of the most famous examples of a fossilized wood tabletop is found on a guéridon in the collection of Versailles.