How to Care for Your Pietra Dura Table 

Pietra Dura is a magnificent art form dating back over 500 years.  It is the inlaying of semiprecious stones into marble or highly polished hard slate.  The care of a table of pietra dura is not very different than the care of a fine wooden table. 

The stone on a pietradura table is protected with a hard Parmirwax.  The recommended brand is Bellinzoni.  Depending on amount of use the table only needs to be polished with this wax once a year at the most.  To polish apply a moderately thin coat of wax, remove it with 0 or 00 grade steel wool than buff.  This should not be necessary if the table is only used for display.

If the table is used for everyday dining it is advisable to cover it with glass the same way you would cover a wooden table with a pad.  If it is only used occasionally for dining place mats are fine.

You should avoid placing hot pots or trays directly on the table especially if wet as this will disturb the wax finish on the table and give an uneven shine.

To clean use plain cool water or if necessary to remove grease a dilute mild solution of soap and water.

It is best not to use the table out of doors.  If you do it must be under an awning or something to protect it from the rain and sun.  Sun is not a problem in doors.

The table is harder than a wooden table and should not scratch easily but if it does scratch it is very easy to repair.  The scratch could be sanded out with a 320 to 600grit sandpaper depending on how deep the scratch is and then finished with finer grades of sandpaper going up to 1500 grit.  On beige and white tables use a liquid marble polish for final finish but on black tables only the sandpaper.

With only minor care Pietra Dura will bring you many generations of joy and amazement with its stunning beauty and incredible workmanship.