Full details of each lot are displayed, except the lot number, estimate and price. You must be a subscriber to view lot numbers, estimates and prices.
A gold micromosaic necklace, circa 1890, the woven gold chain…
Auction House:
Auction Location:
Sydney
Date:
27-May-2012
Lot No.
***
Description:
A gold micromosaic necklace, circa 1890, the woven gold chain threaded with gold beads, suspending a fringe of ropetwist amphora-shaped micromosaic drops, with alternating depictions of flowers, cherubim and dancing females, in polychrome tesser', interspersed with shield-shaped finials of patterned micromosaic, probably Italian, deficient tesser' to penultimate drop, length 45.0 cm. Like cameos, mosaics have their roots in ancient civilisations. Both were studied and developed in the Renaissance. Victorian times saw a revival of interest in both, and with the advent of the grand Tour, production of mosaics increased dramatically. Micromosaics are formed of small pieces of stone or glass (tesser') of differing shapes and shades of colour, which are fitted together to create a picture., Popular subject matters were: animals dogs, birds and horses; Romantic symbols including Cupid with his bow and arrows, and Venus' doves, often with a basket of flowers, also the Capitoline doves depicting doves on the rim of a wide goblet or dish of water. Classic pastoral scenes, peasants or early Romans tending livestock or grouped around straw huts; Roman ruins were depicted from the late 18th century onwards and suites often depicted popular tourist destinations such as the Pantheon, the Colosseum and the Trevi fountain, the present lot is a fine example of the micromosaic methodology. It combines depictions of classical subject-matter, with an evidently superior level of workmanship
Estimate:
***
Price:
***
Category:
Jewellery: Necklace/Chain