Description
Cute, antique mosaic brooch from the early 20th century is set with light blue, dark blue, red, yellow, black, white, and green tesserae glass tiles. A large yellow flower is in the center, surrounded by blue, black, and white geometric patterns. The border is trimmed with gold-washed brass, and the entire piece is oval-shaped.
Micro-mosaic jewelry is a 2000-year-old art form that hit its peak in the 17th to 19th centuries, during what was known as the Grand Tour era. Each piece depicted a classic Italian scene such as the Grand Canal in Venice or Vatican City in Rome and served as a souvenir before photography and postcards. Each tiny tile is called tesserae and is usually made out of glass, or in some finer pieces, they are cut from gemstones and rocks. Italians have dominated the micro-mosaic market so much that most of the artwork in the Vatican are micro-mosaic replicas constructed over previous paintings that were decaying from the moist environment!
The piece is in very good to good antique condition with minimal signs of wear. The glass tesserae are not damaged or broken and are secure. The safety catch is fully functional, and the back is stamped ITALY, and there are a few tiny spots on the brass. The twisted front brass has areas of dark tarnish and slight verdigris.
The brooch measures 1″ wide and 7/8″ tall. It weighs 6.93 grams, and the box is for display only.
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