Description ***PLEASE NOTE ESTIMATE IN THE PRINTED CATALOGUE SHOULD...
Description
***PLEASE NOTE ESTIMATE IN THE PRINTED CATALOGUE SHOULD READ 300 - 400***
A GOLD MOUNTED MICRO-MOSAIC PENDANT
Of oval shape form, the panel depicting a bird, suspending from a trio gold chain to plain bale, mounted in gold, length 3.3cm
Micro mosaic started to be developed in the Vatican workshop towards the end of the 18th Century. The term micro mosaic was coined by wealthy 20th century collector Sir Arthur Gilbert in reference to Roman mosaics composed of little glass bricks called tesserae. The size of the smalti, small multi-coloured glass tesserae or blocks was minute, with up to 5,000 per square inch, painstakingly arranged with tweezers. When the tourism trade blossomed in Rome at the beginning of the 19th Century, micro mosaic jewellery served as a modern-day souvenir, depicting images of the Campagna Romana and archaeological ruins.
Florentine pietra dura and Venetian mosaic also fall under the umbrella of micros mosaics of the Victorian era. Pietra dura is made of thin bits of stone carved into specific shapes and fitted together like a jigsaw puzzle. These pictures depicting flowers, birds, butterflies and other insects were set into black marble and framed with metal.
Micro mosaic jewellery was most commonly found as brooches and pendants which were sold as fine jewellery to Victorian ladies in the early and mid 19th century. The charming little micro mosaic pendant on offer with Adam is decorated with an image of a bird, comprised of many tiny fragments fitted together through skilful and technical craft.
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Description
***PLEASE NOTE ESTIMATE IN THE PRINTED CATALOGUE SHOULD READ 300 - 400***
A GOLD MOUNTED MICRO-MOSAIC PENDANT
Of oval shape form, the panel depicting a bird, suspending from a trio gold chain to plain bale, mounted in gold, length 3.3cm
Micro mosaic started to be developed in the Vatican workshop towards the end of the 18th Century. The term micro mosaic was coined by wealthy 20th century collector Sir Arthur Gilbert in reference to Roman mosaics composed of little glass bricks called tesserae. The size of the smalti, small multi-coloured glass tesserae or blocks was minute, with up to 5,000 per square inch, painstakingly arranged with tweezers. When the tourism trade blossomed in Rome at the beginning of the 19th Century, micro mosaic jewellery served as a modern-day souvenir, depicting images of the Campagna Romana and archaeological ruins.
Florentine pietra dura and Venetian mosaic also fall under the umbrella of micros mosaics of the Victorian era. Pietra dura is made of thin bits of stone carved into specific shapes and fitted together like a jigsaw puzzle. These pictures depicting flowers, birds, butterflies and other insects were set into black marble and framed with metal.
Micro mosaic jewellery was most commonly found as brooches and pendants which were sold as fine jewellery to Victorian ladies in the early and mid 19th century. The charming little micro mosaic pendant on offer with Adam is decorated with an image of a bird, comprised of many tiny fragments fitted together through skilful and technical craft.
Sale price
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
