The carvings of this marble stemma cartouche dates to the 1500’s. Hand-carved in Tuscany, Italy, the marble was mounted onto a geometrically shaped iron stand within the last century.

Stemmas can be traced back to ancient Rome when genealogical information was recorded on scrolls. In the Middle Ages, coat of arms began to replace stemmas as the preferred method for conveying familial lines. An oval escutcheon surrounded by scrolls is depicted on the 16-inch-tall marble. The shield has a sinister bend emblazoned with fluting. There are two floral rosette charges, one on each side of the bend. The left side of the marble has a large “Z” and a floral rosette amongst geometric carvings. Our Italian 16th century carved marble stemma cartouche can be displayed indoors or outside.

CONDITION: Very good antique condition with fleabites and buildup to marble. The stand, which was added more recently, has minor rubs and oxidation to the iron. The marble has developed a weathered gray patina. Please see photos for details.