Description
This fabulous antique jewelry set has tiny inlaid glass beads creating a floral mosaic pattern in silver-plated brass. This colorful set was made in Italy in the 1920s. The red, blue, green, yellow, black, and white tiles flow together seamlessly to create an excellent piece of art. The earrings have clips for non-pierced ears. Fabulous jewelry to add to your antique collection!
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 more delicate 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 set is in good antique condition with minor signs of wear. The glass tesserae are intact and not damaged. The silver plate has a light to moderate layer of patina that can be polished upon request. The backs are stamped ITALY, and the safety pin clasp is fully functional. There are a few dark spots on the side of the pendant; these are not noticeable while wearing the piece.
The necklace is 19.5″ long, the pendant is 2-3/4″ tall and 1-1/2″ wide and weighs 16.27 grams. The earrings measure 7/8″ tall and wide and weigh 8.83 grams. The brooch measures 1-1/8″ tall and wide and weighs 8.11 grams. The box is for display only.
Please note the measurements in the details section, as the item can appear more significant than the actual size. Shipping is combined on multiple orders.
