Founded in 1588 to support the Florentine art of pietre dure (mosaic-like inlays of marble and semi-precious stones), theO pificio delle Pietre Dure, literally or Workshop of Semi-precious Stones, is a public institute of the Italian Ministry for Cultural Heritage based in Florence

It includes remarkable examples of the craft, from portraits and trompe l’oeil tabletops to panoramic landscapes and functions as a global leader in the field of art restoration and provides teaching as one of two Italian state conservation schools.