Regent Antiques has dated this piece to the 1860s.
Condition:
In really excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation.
Dimensions in cm:
Height 5 cm x Width 11 cm x Depth 14.5 cm
Dimensions in inches:
Height 2 inches x Width 4 inches x Depth 6 inches
Micro-Mosaic
From the Renaissance micro-mosaics began to be made in Italy, reaching the height of their popularity in the mid 19th century, when Rome was the centre of production; there was a Vatican Mosaic Studio from 1576, set up to create mosaic replicas of the altarpieces in St Peter's Basilica, which were being damaged by the humid conditions of the vast and crowded interior. They were popular purchases by visitors on the Grand Tour, easily portable, and often taken home to set into an object there. Typical scenes were landscapes of Roman views, rarely of any artistic originality, and the micromosaics were small panels used to inset into furniture or onto snuffboxes and similar objects, or for jewellery.
A distinctive feature of micromosaics is that the tesserae are usually oblong rather than square.The best work can achieve 3,000 to 5,000 tesserae per square inch. The best collections are in the Hermitage Museum and the Gilbert Collection in London.
Our reference: A4031
Regent Antiques has dated this piece to the 1860s.
We specialise in english and continental furniture, silver, porcelain and decorative items.
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Regent Antiques Profile Page
Regent Antiques is a registered member of LAPADA CINOA
Antique Roman Grand Tour Micromosaic Marble Desk Weight 19th Century
