With delight ID-Digest showcases this month the specialized bespoke work of Connie and Randy Cotita – faux Pietra Dure.

“Pietra Dure”, which is often spelt “Pietra Dura”, defined by Britain’s Victoria and Albert Museum as “A method of inlaying colored marbles or semi-precious stones into a stone base, often in geometric or flower patterns. The technique was developed in Florence, where the Grand Ducal workshops specialized in producing table tops, cabinets or church furnishings.”The stones used are usually silicates, including agates, alabaster, amethyst, jade, jasper, lapis lazuli, malachite, onyx, and topaz. The craft, developed in antiquity, originally consisted of shaping stones with small saws, wires and other metal instruments and adding them to decorative objects creating intricate inlaid pictures.

Rare Florentine Pietre Dure

Novice Pietre Dure Artist, India

Marble Inlay, Older and Newer pieces

This ancient tradition is still practiced today in it’s original form, however Connie and Randy found that a “faux” application that paid close attention to the traditional, historic applications was a niche service that greatly appealed to many collectors. Each bespoke piece requires intricate designs, documented research, the careful placement of the individual in-laid ‘stones” and exquisite Trompe l’oeil techniques to ensure natures’ original is emulated to perfection. Often embedded dimensional pearls or abalone disks make cameo appearances in Connie and Randy’s projects, drawing on their background in Art and Design.

Many a time their clients already own the piece they wish to be adorned, or new pieces can be purchased or even built, as in the case of the seven-foot table commissioned for private collection, featured in this article’s slide show. In this instance, a designer had found a lovely table in Italy but it was cost prohibitive to have it shipped back to the United States. Randy's expertise in design, drafting and fabricating larger work to a clients design specification completes their turn-key design services for North America.

The exemplarily examples of their work on our front page, which are also visually available in their slide show below, illustrates why this couple received invitations to attend the “International Decorative Painters Salon.” Commonly referred to as the “Salon,” this very prestigious organization holds a gathering, by invitation only, once a year, every time a different City or Country. Several of the pieces on our cover were the artwork Connie and Randy took to these gatherings. The photograph of the panel displayed with a companion, a shell shaped reproduction 'Grotto" stool, silver leafed, aged and punctuated with pearls around the banding to mimic antique Grotto furniture from Italy - is the only work presented in this article that is not embellished with Pietre Dure, offering you a peek at their diversified artistic talents.

The access to such august work and the camaraderie of such immense talent at the Salon was a major turning point for Connie and Randy. Peer recognition came from many directions. In 2006 many of the Salon artists, including Connie and Randy, had their work selected for a three month display in the M.C Escher Museum in “The Hague”, 2008 their work was included in the book ”Designer Faux Finishing” by Victor DeMasi and in 2010 their work will be featured Gary Lords new book, “It’s Faux Easy with Gary Lord.”

Exposure to such a wealth of knowledge and talent ignited their desire to share the plethora of talent and products available to this industry. To this end,InfauxWorld was born as a very comprehensive web based information resource for the artist and the public. “If you reap one must sow” is inherent in their attitude towards community commitments. These two artists continually support major charitable causes. The last large body of work consisted of 33 donated pieces, which they adorned free of charge, for a charity based auction to fight child abuse. On a personal basis, their blog is available simply for the joy reading of about beautiful objects and ideas!

Currently Connie and Randy are based in Louisiana where they are traveling and working in homes and condos along the gulf coast. They also own a residence in Canada where they plan to fully relocate to in the very near future. Once they are settled in their new home they plan to lay the groundwork to begin teaching. Several well known studios have asked, but the timing was just never right. However, their relocation plans include a full teaching studio where they will offer classes to be taught by themselves and a number of talented artists from around the globe. Their company “Studio Abbellire,” whose name incorporates an Italian verb meaning to “beautify, embellish, adorn, or posh-up,” will soon be gracing surfaces with their incredible talent, not only in the United States, but very shortly in Canada. Lucky Canadians!

We wonder, which lucky country will be next?