Pietre Dure is a mosaic technique or more specifically a type of stone marquetry that originated in Rome and later reached a zenith in Florence Italy in the 1600 and 1700s it is sometimes called Florentine Mosaic. Marble and many other types of semi- precious stones were carved and  cut into small pieces. These small pieces were fitted together with no visible interstices (joints between the pieces) to make a ‘painting’ that depicted landscapes or other subjects from the natural world. The texture of the stone mimics those found in nature: Clouds, mountains or leaves and flowers. Pietre Dure also means hard or durable stones. We strive for durability and quality craftsmanship in our work and find nature to be an inspiring source of subject matter for our mosaic installations and fine art mosaics.