The Florentines did it better, at least to judge by the dukes and duchesses whose ornate collectibles and patronage gifts make up the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s new exhibit “Art of the Royal Court: Treasures in Pietre Dure From the Palaces of Europe.” The technique of pietre dure, or hard stone, has its origins in ancient Greece and Rome; luxury and everyday items were intricately inlaid with semiprecious stones, such as jasper and agate, arranged to depict landscapes, birds, flora, and other scenes. More than 170 pieces from courts in Paris, Naples, Prague, and Madrid are on view at the Met, and they offer spectacularly ornate surfaces. The best were crafted by the Medici-sponsored workshops that flourished during Florence’s Renaissance period. And there is an equivalent today: Many pieces of jewelry and accessories in recent collections have been designed with the same vibrant, decorative spirit. With layers of colorful resin or references to the animal kingdom, designers are keeping the idea of high ornamentation brilliantly alive.