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BOX 5038
114 37 Stockholm
All auctions / Arts & Graphics / Antique Micromosaic of the Roman Forum in a Gilded Silver Frame From
Roma quanta fuit, ipsa ruina docet - "How great Rome was, even its ruins bear witness to that." This quote by Francesco Albertini (1469 - after 1510), which has coagulated into a proverb, laments the decline of antiquity. From the point of view of the Italian scholar and humanist of the Renaissance, the period since the fall of the empire had brought only decay and decline - and artists, architects and writers of the early 16th century had a longing and somewhat sad sense of the treasure trove of culture, technology and knowledge that they would have to laboriously regain. But "Even its ruins bear witness to how great Rome was" - this sentence by Albertini was soon turned into irony. For with every step towards the study of antiquity, we also became aware of the cracks, tensions and shoals of this epoch. The ruins still bear witness to the Roman Empire - but perhaps not everything was as exemplary and worthy of imitation as had been assumed in the meantime? Among all the remains of that great civilization of antiquity, a few columns stand out in particular: these are the remains of the Temple of Vespasian and Titus, three columns around 15 metres high under a single piece of timberwork, which seem to have defied decay and the vicissitudes of time unimpressed for almost 2000 years. Seemingly, mind you, because we have only been able to admire the columns, as shown in this fine micromosaic, since 1811. Before that, they were almost completely buried by earth and rubble. It was only at the beginning of the new century that they were uncovered, restored and made visible again. On the left edge we can still see the triumphal arch of Septimius Severus, built in 203 AD, while the columns of the Temple of Saturn rise up on the right edge. A single column can be seen in the background. It was erected in 608 AD by the Byzantine Emperor Phocas and is the last ancient monument to be added to the Forum. But what does looking at the ruins teach us? Surely a lesson about transience, about the decline of the empire and its culture, and reverence for the way of the world. The fine, perfectly preserved mosaic was created in Rome, probably in the 1860s. Unfortunately, it came to us without a setting. Our goldsmiths have therefore added a setting to the mosaic in the style of the time. It is made of gold-plated silver and turns the mosaic into a brooch. Would you like to join us on a trip to the south?
Estimate:£832.44
To the auctionView all items fromHofer AntikschmuckorArts & Graphics
Estimate:
£832.44
François Perrier (1590–1650), a pair of possibly 17th century Roman
08/17/2026
£30
Est: £30
OCT 8 | 3:00 PM
OCT 8 | 3:00 PM
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£189.18
A mid to late 20th century woodcut print depicting the ancient Roman
08/10/2026
£20
Est: £20
OCT 17 | 10:00 PM
