Complètement Piqué : Le Fol Art De L'écaille À La Cour De Naples

Exhibition at the Galerie Kugel, Paris, 12 September - 3 December 2018

This book is the catalogue of the first exhibition devoted to the art of "piqué", which flourished in Naples during the first half of the 18th century. The technique combines lavish inventiveness, virtuoso skill and astonishing opulence. These extraordinary objects bring together three precious materials: tortoiseshell, gold, and mother-of- pearl. The artisans who created these masterpieces were known as "Tartarugari".

These pieces were created between 1720 and 1760 for connoisseurs and the court, and particularly for Charles of Bourbon, who became king of Naples in 1734, and made his court one of the most splendid and cosmopolitan in all Europe.

This catalogue includes over 50 objects highlighting a table by Giuseppe Sarao - the ultimate masterpiece made using this technique - here lent, for the first time, by the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg. It features for the first time a complete study on the subject.