The design on this micromosaic plaque is a popular scene known as the Capitoline Doves, or doves of Pliny. The image, inspired by a mosaic uncovered in 1737 at Hadrian's villa near Tivoli, became an iconic motif of Roman micromosaics and was reproduced in innumerable versions and formats, of which Arthur Gilbert acquired no less than sevent different versions.

The term 'micromosaic' is used to describe mosaics made of the smallest glass pieces. Some micromosaics contain more than 5000 pieces per square inch. The earliest attempts at micromosaic revealed visible joins between the pieces (known as tesserae ) and a lack of perspective. Later artists such as Antonio Aguatti made huge advances in micromosaic technique, resulting in renderings that were truer to life. Glass micromosaic technique developed in the 18th century, in the Vatican Mosaic Workshop in Rome, where they still undertake restoration work today.

Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.