Two Florentine Mosaic or pietra dura pictures, multicolored marble inlaid on a slate base, signed M— on front and etched in slate en verso: Mauro Bini Firenze. 1st item: an abstract geometric design, 8-3/4" x 11-1/2" sight, 15-3/8" x 17-5/8" framed. 2nd item: Figures of two fashionable women in summer dresses. 8-3/8" x 6-1/8" sight, 12-3/4" x 10-3/4" framed. Both in molded silver-gilt frames with gallery label for G. Ugolini (a Mosaic gallery in Florence which opened in 1868). Italian, mid-20th century. Attributed to Mauro Bini, a leading 20th century artist working in the ancient technique of mosaic art. Bini studied at the Florence Institute of Art. He began specializing in mosaic pictures in the 1950s, and has won numerous awards for his mosaics. He also founded the Il Moro Arts Centre in Florence. Provenance: estate of Jean and Alven Ghertner, Nashville, TN. Condition: Some light scratching, overall good condition.