TABATIÈRE ITALIENNE EN PORPHYRE, ARGENT ET MICROMOSAIQUE ROME, VERS 1820,...

Rectangulaire, en porphyre gris avec montures en argent, le couvercle orné d'une micromosaïque représentant une vue du Panthéon de Rome dans un cadre en argent uni, poinçons dur la gorge : ville et maître-orfèvre, sur le couvercle : ville
L.: 9,5 cm. (33⁄4 in.)
Poids brut: 218 gr. (7 oz.)

Provenance
AN ITALIAN SILVER-MOUNTED PORPHYRY SNUFF-BOX SET WITH A MICROMOSAIC, ROME, CIRCA 1820, MAKER'S MARK ILLEGIBLE
Rectangular, in grey porphyry, with silver mounts, the cover set in the centre with a micromosaic depicting a view of the pantheon in Rome within a plain silver frame, marked on flange: town and maker's mark; on cover: town
The micromosaic depicts Rome's Pantheon with the fountain and obelisk in Piazza della Rotonda. It remains the largest monument in ancient Rome and one of the greatest tourist attractions. Built by order of Agrippa in the 1st century BC, it was completely rebuilt under Hadrian at the beginning of the 2nd century following several fires. The Pantheon was originally a temple dedicated to all the divinities of ancient religion before being converted into a church in the 7th century by Pope Boniface IV.