Brooch
1820-30 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Micromosaic panels were popular souvenirs brought back by travellers to Rome. They consisted of minute pieces of coloured glass arranged in mastic or cement on a glass panel using tweezers. They often depicted birds and flowers, but the most popular subjects were the buildings and ruins of ancient Rome. The panels could be set as jewellery or into the lids of boxes, while larger examples were used in furniture.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Micromosaic panel (glass tesserae) set in silver-gilt filigree |
| Brief description | Italy, Rome, mosaic about 1780-90, setting about 1820-30. Gilded silver filigree and glass micromosaic |
| Physical description | Brooch, silver-gilt filigree, set with a Roman mosaic of a bird, possibly a pheasant, composed of minute tesserae of coloured glass or ceramic. The silver-gilt resembles spiralled string, and surrounds an octagonal panel of a micromosaic of a bird on a branch. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Dame Joan Evans |
| Object history | The Roman mosaics used in jewellery are miniature versions of a traditional technique employed on a large scale in church decoration; they are composed of minute tesserae of coloured glass or ceramic. |
| Production | Made in Rome. Micromosaic made in 1780-90 |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Micromosaic panels were popular souvenirs brought back by travellers to Rome. They consisted of minute pieces of coloured glass arranged in mastic or cement on a glass panel using tweezers. They often depicted birds and flowers, but the most popular subjects were the buildings and ruins of ancient Rome. The panels could be set as jewellery or into the lids of boxes, while larger examples were used in furniture. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.35-1962 |
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| Record created | February 17, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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