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Victorian micro mosaic pendant, Doves of Pliny  

 

Reference #: 9251

Status: sale pending

Dimensions: 1.25 by 1.5 inches, not including pendant loop; 14kt. gold chain picture with pendant is sold separately

Condition: perfect

Year: 1840-60

Price: sold

Description:  Superbly executed micro mosaic pendant depicting the "Doves of Pliny".  The top of the pendant is vermeil (gold on silver) and is accented with Etruscan wire work.   Micro mosaics are truly works of art.  The finest ones (like this pendant) look like a painting and the tesserae can only be seen with a loupe. 

Micro-mosaics are created from thousands of tiny colored glass rods, painstakingly assembled and secured with a slow drying adhesive.  The tiny pieces that make up a micro mosaic are called tesserae. 

Historical information: One of the most famous mosaics of the ancient world, the Doves of Pliny was found in the ruins of the Villa of Hadrian and now is on display in Rome. 

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