All Roads Lead to Rome

Antique Gold Brooch with Micromosaic of the Roman Forum, Rome c. 1870

€ 1,980.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Antique Gold Brooch with Micromosaic of the Roman Forum, Rome c. 1870

Description

This description was automatically translated from German. If you have any questions about this piece of jewellery, we will be happy to help!

This excellent 19th century souvenir brooch, probably a souvenir from a Grand Tour, presents a round micromosaic in a high-carat gold setting decorated with delicate cords. Against a sky-blue glass background, we see one of Rome's most famous sights: the Roman Forum. Once the undisputed center of the Roman Empire, we see the area here in ruins: symbols of the transience of all earthly power and splendor. A large number of ancient monuments of the Forum are depicted on the small mosaic with impressive sophistication and attention to detail. From the foot of the Capitoline Hill, the view is to the east: we recognize the triumphal arch of Septimius Severus on the left edge, while the columns of the temples of Saturn and the deified emperor Vespasian rise up on the right edge. A single, more distant column can be seen in the center. It was erected in 608 AD by the Byzantine Emperor Phocas and is the last ancient monument to be added to the Forum. The mosaic was probably created in the famous Vatican workshops around 1870. The so-called archaeological style supports the dating. In its exquisite fineness and with its beautiful motif, the brooch is a beautiful addition to any collection - and at the same time a piece of jewelry that can still be worn today on special occasions!

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Around 1775, Giacomo Raffaelli and Cesare Aguatti in Rome invented a new technique for working glass into tiny mosaics, which became known as "mosaici filati" (spun mosaics). Using this technique, jewellery and small everyday objects - snuffboxes, boxes, paperweights - could now also be decorated with mosaics, which had previously adorned the walls and floors of Italian churches. The most famous mosaic factories of the 18th and 19th centuries were located in Rome, especially in the Vatican, and their most beautiful and sought-after works mainly depicted views of Rome and its famous buildings, which were bought by travelers who visited the "Eternal City" and wanted to take home a souvenir.

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Size & Details

All Roads Lead to Rome

€ 1,980.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Our Promise

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You can rely on our years of experience in the trade and our expertise as a professional art historians for reviews of the antique jewellery. As a member of various trade organisations and the British Society of Jewellery Historians, we remain committed to the highest possible degree of accuracy. In our descriptions, we always also indicate any signs of age and defects and never hide them in our photos – this saves you from any unpleasant surprises when your package arrives.

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All Roads Lead to Rome

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