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1880 Micromosaic Dove Floral Old Silk Egg Jewelry Box
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1880 Micromosaic Dove Floral Old Silk Egg Jewelry Box
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Roman micro mosaic, gold plated brass c. 1860-1880, openwork scrolls with two rope twist wire diamonds that hold micro mosaic pictures. The one on the left depicts a Capitoline dove, also called Pliny's dove in such fine detail that when seen through a loupe the beak and eye is composed of five shades of mosaic. It took approximately 50 tesserae to composed the dove only. This gives you an idea the workmanship that was employed to produce this picture. The dove is resting on a olive branch with petals that go from yellow to white with a blue center to balance the scene. The one on the right is surrounded by tear shaped olive leaves with exquisite morning glories with leaves of various shades of blue with centers of yellow, just a great balance of colors. Holding these two diamond micro mosaics is a square central divide composed of four circular rope border rings and in these rings pink with blue center flowers ringed by black and white accent and bisecting this are three brass balls that at one time were gold plated or might still be. I have not cleaned this piece. T is a good possibility that under the patina of time t is a bright gold color, but I will leave that to an expert cleaner. The clasp is your typical period c-catch tube hinge and remains tight. The egg shaped box that this brooch/pin comes with is not in great condition. It is brass covered with purple silk and the inside is a crème colored silk that is frayed and stained, but is original box, just seen a lot of usage. Brooch measures 2 ¼" long, 1" wide, egg jewelry box measures 5 ¼" X 7" around, or 2 ½" X 1 ¾" wide. History of mosaics in jewelry. The rise and fall o mosaics developed along parallel lines to that of cameos. Also based on ancient Roman techniques and revived by Neo-classicists, mosaics of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries were miniature works of art in glass or stone, resembling paintings.Like cameos, mosaics reached their height of popularity in the mid-nineteenth century, during the Revivalist rage for all things Italian. And like cameos, too, it was the tourist trade that brought them to that height, and was their downfall in terms of quality.T are two types of Italian mosaics: Roman, or micro mosaics, in which tiny bits of colored glass called tesserae are pieced together to form a picture, held in place with cement in a glass or stone background: and Florentine, or pietra dura ( literally, "hard stone" plural: pietre dure), in which thin slices of colored stones are cut in shapes and fitted together like a jigsaw puzzle to produce a picture, usually using a bed of black marble as foundation. The subject matter for mosaics is also of two distinct types, Roman mosaics, catering to the tourist trade, often depict Roman ruins and landscapes , or are copies of ancient mosaics, like the Capitoline doves, often called "Pliny's doves."King Charles spaniels were another favorite motif. Mythological and religious figures are also seen in Roman mosaics. Florentine mosaics most commonly have floral motifs, but other figurative motifs, such as butterflies and birds, are found as well.Value depends on quality of workmanship and condition. Mosaics are easily cracked or otherwise damaged. In Roman mosaics, the size of the tesserae helps determine age and quality. Micromosaics that look less like pieces of glass and more like a painting to the naked eye are usually earlier, and better.Entire parures, or suites, of jewelry were made from both types of mosaics. Demi-parures of pendant or brooch and earrings are also found.The brooch is the most common single form of mosaic jewelry. Mosaics continue to be made in Italy today, still for tourists, but with much larger tesserae and much less workmanship
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