Magnolias From Florence

Antique gold brooch with "Pietra Dura" inlay, circa 1880

€ 690.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Antique gold brooch with "Pietra Dura" inlay, circa 1880

Description

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

Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance: the city on the Arno has captivated travelers for centuries. Countless works of art made a stay in the city a must on any educational trip to the land where the lemons bloom. Souvenirs from such a trip were always popular - as souvenirs for oneself and as proof of a successful Grand Tour to others. Pietra Dura jewellery from Florence was particularly popular, such as this brooch from around 1880. The round piece shows a Magnolia grandiflora, the evergreen magnolia, in a field of frosted onyx. In the floral language of the 19th century, this plant meant "devotion", which is why it occasionally appeared on gifts of love. The white blossom from the veined shell of the conch shell stands out beautifully against the deep black background of the onyx. The leaves of finely shaded jade and agate look almost alive and create the perfect illusion of the three-dimensional magnolia blossom. A setting made of detailed gold holds the astonishingly detailed work. The brooch is masterfully crafted and in very good condition. A true collector's item from 19th century Florence - and at the same time a piece of jewellery just waiting to be worn with devotion!

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Pietra Dura (Italian for "hard stone") is a traditional craft from Florence in which images and ornaments are composed of small plates of hard stone. Unlike traditional mosaic art made from colorful cubes or pins, the pietra dura process uses precisely shaped pieces that are cut according to the corresponding fields of the preliminary drawing. This creates particularly resistant, durable decorative surfaces. The heyday of pietra dura craftsmanship in Florence was in the 16th century, when not only the famous Medici Chapel in San Lorenzo was decorated, but also numerous tables, pieces of jewelry, altars and in fact every conceivable object was adorned with this elaborate and costly technique. But even today, the Opificio delle Pietre Dure at Via degli Alfani 78 is a workshop that specializes solely in the production of works of art using this technique. Pietra Dura jewelry has been a popular souvenir from every visit to Florence since the Renaissance. Particularly in the 19th century, in the age of the Grand Tour, young aristocrats from northern Europe brought such pieces back home with them from their extended trips to Italy in order to show those back home the beauty and artistry of Italy.

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Size & Details

Magnolias From Florence

€ 690.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Our Promise

We want you to be 100% satisfied! For that reason, we examine, describe and photograph all of our jewellery with the utmost care.

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.

Should you for some reason not be satisfied, please don’t hesitate to contact us so that we can find a solution together. In any case, you can return any article within one month and we will refund the full purchase price.

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Magnolias From Florence

Brooches & Pins

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