Exceptional necklace with eight micromosaics in gold, Rome circa 1835

The rich abundance of Roman ruins still surprises and inspires every traveler to the Eternal City today. From the Colosseum to the triumphal arches at the Roman Forum and the palaces of the emperors, there is so much to discover and marvel at that it is hard to remember all the impressions. Just as we do today, so did the travelers of earlier centuries. Even in Goethe's time, there was a longing for souvenirs that captured what they had seen. Prints could therefore be purchased in many corners of the city. But jewellery was also created, mainly with micromosaics, as souvenirs. This necklace presents eight oval micromosaics with views of Rome and its surroundings. The depictions set in blue glass show ancient monuments, detached from their urban surroundings. They seem to stand alone in the open landscape, which enhances their sublime, melancholy effect. From left to right, we see the Pyramid of Cestius, the Arch of Gallienus, an apse of the Temple of Venus and Roma, the Temple of Vesta in Tivoli, the round temple of Hercules Victor on the Forum Boarium, the Arch of Titus in its unrestored form and two unknown ruins, which are presumably aqueduct arches and a tomb on the Via Appia. According to the hallmarks, the micromosaics, which are staggered in size, and their settings were created in the then Papal States in Rome. The simple settings of high-carat gold and the elegant shape of the double intermediate chains allow us to date the necklace to the 1830s. It is beautifully preserved and a wonderful testimony to the enduring and everlasting enthusiasm for the Eternal City.

Estimate:£4,230.16

View all items fromHofer AntikschmuckorJewellery & Gems