Antique Vintage Georgian 18k Gold Italian Micro Mosaic Pietra Dura Pin Brooch
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Antique Vintage Georgian 18k Gold Italian Micro Mosaic Pietra Dura Pin Brooch:
$102.50
We have similar Georgian and Grand Tour pieces, which would pair nicely with this brooch, up for sale this week. To view in separate listings, please visit our store and search \"Georgian\" or \"Grand Tour\" under our sale items.
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The Piece
sale Estimate: $1,000 - $2,000
Age Circa:Georgian C. 1714 - 1837
Markings:Unmarked, Tested, and Guaranteed
Country of Origin:Italy
Brand: Unknown
Gram Weight:16.4 Grams
Metal Type:18k Rose Gold Brooch, Base Metal Pin Stem
Metal Melt Value: $510.00 (Value All-Inclusive Weight)
Material:--
Main Stone:Onyx
Main Stone Measurements/Color: 32.72 Carats,Measures 33.8 mm long by 41 mm wide and 3.3 mm in depth, Opaque black hue surrounding opaque white, green, and yellow-brown hued onyx
Accent Stone:--
Accent Stone Measurements/Color:--
Stone Treatment:The stone(s) appear to be untreated, but we are not certified gemologists. Stone(s) have been tested and guaranteed using a professional Presidium Duo refractive, heat, and hardness tester.
Stone Cuts: Carved and Polished Inlay
Item Measurements:This brooch measures 1.68\" in length and 1.99\" wide.
Pin/Brooch Style:Brooch, Lapel Pin, Hat Pin, Scarf Pin
Closure Type:Pin Stem with Open \"C\" Clasp
Convertible to Pendant:If desired, your local jeweler can attach a bale to this piece, so it can be worn as a pendant
Notable Features: This pin brooch was handmade during the Georgian era. The crafting of jewelry during the Georgian era was an incredibly time-consuming and labor-intensive practice, with hours spent on even the most minute of details. This beautiful piece is a product of the Grand Tour and was collected in Italy. The Grand Tour was the common vacation for Europeans when they would travel abroad to experience other cultures. Often they would purchase a memento or souvenir to bring back home, such as this amazing brooch. This brooch would have been extremely stylish during the time that it was purchased as the Archaeological revival was taking place, inspired by the rediscovery of Etruscan tombs in Italy. Pietra dura is a mosaic inlay technique developed in Rome during the 16th century and was inspired by ancient Roman mosaics and tile work. Following the discovery of ancient Etruscan sites outside of Rome in the early 19th century, the technique was once again very popular for use in jewelry.
The pietra dura micro mosaic is made out of multi-colored onyx stones which have been arranged into the image of a flower. Black onyx was carved by hand and inlaid into the brooch to form the background, while green, yellow-brown, and white onyx were used to create the flower itself, each color contrasting beautifully against the other. A steady hand and attention to detail would have been required to create this flawless image. This micro mosaic would have been made to mimic the Roman tiles that were being unearthed during the Archaeological revolution. Bordering the micro mosaic is a rose gold bezel which provides another point of contrast against the black onyx.
The brooch itself is composed of 18k rose gold and is heavy in gold weight value. Surrounding the frame of the micro mosaic is a thick band of rose gold with applied foliate accents. At some point during the brooch\'s life, its original pin stem was replaced with a base metal pin stem with an open \"C\" clasp. This brooch also has a small bale which could be used to transform this brooch into a necklace or to hang a small pendant off of. Due to its size, this brooch is perfectly suited for wear on a variety of accessories, including hats, scarves, and lapels, among many others. Your local jeweler can also easily attach a bale so the piece can be worn as a pendant on a necklace. A stunning example of the Italian pietra dura technique and the jewelry purchased by Georgian era Grand Tour travelers, this brooch would make an excellent addition to any antique jewelry collection. Don\'t miss your chance to own this beautiful piece of history.
Damage: Age appropriate wear. The pin stem is not 18k rose gold and was replaced at some point of this brooch\'s history. This brooch is missing parts of two of its foliate designs, which is to be expected of an item this age. The gold is slightly scratched due to the metal being tested, which does not affect the wear of this item at all. The gold is slightly patinaed, which adds to the character of this item.
*This listing is for the item only. All display boxes and/or photography props do not come with your purchase.*The History
The Georgian era is known for its hand-crafted designs, which were heavily influenced by world exploration. A few signatures of this era were high karat gold, cameos, chatelaine accessories, foil-backed stones, rivière necklaces, memento mori, and mourning jewelry, and rose and mine cut diamonds. While the jewelry from this era began to see designs from all over the world, jewelry from abroad was still very expensive to acquire due to sea travel. Between age and difficulty of acquirement, pieces of jewelry from the Georgian era are rare finds and amazing pieces of history.
Archaeological revival jewelry was inspired by the excavations and discoveries of Roman, Byzantine, Egyptian, and Etruscan sites in the 18th and 19th Centuries. These archaeological digs uncovered beautiful works of decorative arts, giving jewelers a glimpse into the past for inspiration for contemporary designs. Some of the revival styles incorporate the use of filigree and granulation decorations. The revival styles emphasized the contrast between antiquity and modernity, with jewelers of the modern world borrowing motifs and techniques from the ancients, to perfect with advanced technologies and incorporate into modern designs.
Etruscan revival jewelry swept into popularity in the early 1800s with the Victorian era discovery of Etruscan tombs just outside of Rome in Italy. These archaeological digs unearthed beautiful golden jewelry that had been meticulously ornamented with tiny gold beads, featuring flowing geometric shapes, celestial motifs, and a plethora of sacred and Greco-Roman mythological figures. The techniques of repoussé, filigree, and granulation are all attributed to the Etruscans. Jewelers all over the world avidly began to attempt to replicate these ancient techniques, changing the way fine jewelry was made for many years.
The Grand Tour was the standard European vacation of the Georgian and Victorian eras. The opportunity it gave for studying culture, architecture and art made it a tradition, especially for the upper classes. The Grand Tour was popularized by the poet Lord Byron and the writer Mary Shelley, who was the author of Frankenstein. The Grand Tour was an opportunity for wealthy travelers to explore the world and experience different cultures over a 2 to 4-year period. And what better memento of this long trip than pieces of native souvenir jewelry such as Italian cameos, mosaic, and pietra dura. Pieces often had historical inspirations from the remnants of Pompeii to the pyramids of Egypt. Cultural learning was a focal point of the grand tour and the process of remembrance spilled over into jewelry souvenirs.
Pietra dura, Italian for “hard stone”, is a mosaic inlay technique which uses polished and cut stones to create an image, which is often highly detailed. The highest quality pietra dura pieces resemble paintings. This method first appeared in Rome during the 16th century and fine-tuned during the Renaissance period by the famous Medici family. The stones are first assembled, loose, and then meticulously glued one-by-one to a surface to create an image. Artists often used colored stones, marble, semi-precious and precious stones, and even petrified wood.
Onyx is a chalcedony quartz that is mined in Brazil, India, California, and Uruguay. It usually has a fine texture and black color; however, some onyx also displays colored bands or ribbons against a black or brown background. Red onyx is quite rare and desirable and is also known as sardonyx. Onyx that has a deep green shade is known as Brazilian green onyx, and is very rare; it became a popular stone for sculpture and jewelry in the 1920s and 1930s.
The word onyx comes from the Greek word \"ὄνυξ\" which can be translated as \"nail of a finger or claw.\" In Greco-Roman myth, the goddess of beauty, Aphrodite, lay sleeping when Eros cut her fingernails and left the clippings scattered on the ground. Because no part of a heavenly body can die, the gods turned them into the stone which later became known as onyx.
Domestic US: All items ship within one business day of receiving payment. Buyers will have 3 base shipping options to choose from, depending on the needed speed of delivery. Pricing on single and multi-purchase transactions can be seen below:
- sale Items:Base shipping + $1.00 per additional gold item & BIN items combine for free
- BIN Items:FREE
Base Shipping:
- USPSFirst Class: $8.00 fully insured, estimated 3-5 business days
- USPSPriority Mail: $12.00 fully insured, estimated 2-3 business days
- USPSPriority Express: $25.00 fully insured, overnight delivery
International: All packages are sent via USPS and pricing is based on buyer location. Each customer will receive a revised invoice at the close of the sale with an updated shipping rate. We will combine shipping on multiple purchases for free.We do not undervalue packages for customs, please do not ask us to do so. What you pay is what we will claim on your customs form.Please take this into consideration before placing your offer.
If you find yourself not wanting to risk losing this piece during an sale, we will entertain Buy It Now offers. However, we will not accept any offers in the 24 hours prior to an sale ending. Please message us with your best offer, and if accepted, we will add a Buy It Now option to this piece for you.
Antique Vintage Georgian 18k Gold Italian Micro Mosaic Pietra Dura Pin Brooch:
$102.50