Diadem thumbnail 1
Diadem thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Diadem


Roman ruins were highly popular subjects for Italian micromosaics. 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, which continues to 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.


Object details

Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Diadem Frontlet
  • Case
Brief description
Gold diadem frontlet with a central oval micromosaic depicting a temple, Rome, 1830-50.
Physical description
Gold diadem frontlet with a central oval micromosaic depicting a temple within a blue glass ground set in a gold frame decorated with cannetille between four similarly decorated, smaller fan-shaped panels.
Credit line
The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Object history
Provenance: A La Vieille Russie, New York, 1985.
Summary
Roman ruins were highly popular subjects for Italian micromosaics. 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, which continues to 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.
Collection
Accession number
LOAN:GILBERT.160:1-2008

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Record createdJune 26, 2008
Record URL
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