Antique Roman Micromosaic Bracelet in Gold, c. 1860

A Very Victorian Journey

Antique Roman Micromosaic Bracelet in Gold, c. 1860

€ 3,290.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Description

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

Sic transit gloria mundi! - Thus passes the glory of the world! What could remind us more of the greatness, glory and fall of the great powers and ideas than a visit to Rome? This bracelet, which we discovered in England, illustrates the Victorian enthusiasm for travel, especially for the classical antiquities of Italy. No other nation embarked on the Grand Tour as often and as willingly as the wealthy English, and in high Victorian society a grand tour of Italy was part of good manners and a way of perfecting one's education. Souvenirs in the form of jewelry, especially micromosaics, were quite common. The bracelet takes us on a journey to the twilight hour, to six important sites in the eternal city. From left to right, viewed from the clasp: 1. The Pantheon. The building, which was begun under Emperor Trajan around 114 AD and completed under Emperor Hadrian around 118 AD, still impresses today with its wide-spanning dome. In 609, the Pantheon, originally a temple for all the gods of Rome, was rededicated as a Christian church and dedicated to the Virgin Mary. 2. A detail of the Forum Romanum. These are the remains of the Temple of Vespasian and Titus - three columns around 15 meters high under a piece of timberwork, which seem to have defied decay and the vagaries of time unimpressed for almost 2000 years. Seem to, mind you! In fact, we have only been able to admire the columns, as shown in one of the fine micromosaic earrings here, since 1811. Before that, they were almost completely buried by earth and rubble. It was only at the beginning of the 19th century that they were uncovered, restored and thus made visible again. 3. Made of fine glass tesserae, we see here the circular temple built in 120 BC on the Forum Boarium, Rome's old cattle market on the banks of the Tiber. In ancient times, the well-preserved temple was a shrine to Hercules Victor, the victorious Hercules. To the right of it we also see the Temple of Fortuna Virilis. 4. The Arch of Constantine. This three-towered Roman triumphal arch in the immediate vicinity of the Colosseum was probably erected in 312 to commemorate the victory of Emperor Constantine over his adversary Maxentius. 5. The Colosseum: the view from the south-west side shows the partially ruined state of the monumental arena, which is perhaps precisely why it is so impressive. The artist has succeeded beautifully in capturing the atmosphere and lighting conditions in tiny glass tesserae. With astonishing ingenuity and attention to detail, the brooch shows the building, which has become the epitome of Roman power and greatness, but also reminds us of the inevitable transience of all earthly splendor. 6 From a slightly elevated vantage point, we look at St. Peter's Basilica and the square in front of it. In the background we see the papal palace and in the middle, casting a large shadow, the ancient obelisk. According to legend, Caesar's ashes are kept at the top of the obelisk. In addition, a visit to the obelisk grants indulgenza plenaria, or eternal indulgence, if you touch it. The mosaic shows St. Peter's Square without the gas lighting installed in 1854; the micromosaic was probably created earlier, or the mosaicist did not yet have a renewed model. The artfully placed micromosaics are set in simple gold frames. Would you like to go on a journey of the imagination – just like the first owner of the bracelet did over a century and a half ago?

Learn more

Made of tiny glass stones, finely graded in color and extremely rich in detail, the depiction continues to inspire to this day - micromosaics like this have always been coveted art chamber pieces and collector's items that not only inspire craftsmanship but were also always proof of a certain connoisseurship. Executed at a time when a trip to Italy cost a small fortune and the picture postcard for the loved ones back home had not yet been invented, souvenirs like this one were exactly what wealthy travelers acquired in Rome. Alongside engravings by Piranesi and original Roman antiquities or their plaster casts, the micromosaic became a must-have of the 18th and early 19th centuries, the era of the great educational journeys.

Learn more

Size & Details

A Very Victorian Journey

€ 3,290.00 ^*

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.

Learn more

A Very Victorian Journey

Bracelets & Bangles

Privacy settings