Description Each in the form of a broken column, the plinth bases inlaid with coloured marbles and the Carthaginian emblems of a warrior and horse with palm Catalogue Note The family firm of J. Darmanin & Sons was the most prominent Maltese workshop producing objects in inlaid marbles, particularly in the second half of the 19th century. Their output was of high quality and often 'Monumental and Mosaic Slabs and other Ornamental Work' and included table tops often with a armorials and rarer smaller objects such as the present lot. The Carthaginian devices on the present lot feature on other pieces by them. Their work was chiefly for export and for British tourists who stopped at Valletta while on the Levantine Grand Tour. Lady Montefiore recorded her visit to their marble works in her journal published in 1885 '[they] produce items that appeared to be imitation of Florentine mosaics'. The used marbles and semi-precious stones imported from Messina, Sicily and the Aegean and included lapis