Magnificent & RARE antique Italian Grand Tour era micro mosaic 16.25" altar style cross or crucifix with a lovely array of white doves & flowers, five figural medallions with religious scenes and mosaic "Roma" inscription! One of only a few fabulous old Italian micro mosaic crucifixes that we're lucky enough to come across in our buying, we tend to snap them up as quickly as we can find them (as do our clients normally). This one overly large and impressive, in wonderful condition and will make a beautiful decorative and/or devotional piece! A splendid example of the tourist trade micromosaics of the turn of the century, 1900, give or take, when Grand Tour travel was in its own 'Belle Epoche' and artisans souvenir pieces such as this found their way home with the wealthy fortunate few who traveled the world collecting them. So much finer than a screen-printed t-shirt with Romulus, Remus and the she-wolf, after all - no? This one is entirely worked into a heavy silver or nickel plated bronze framework, assuring the long long life to the full installation of tiny bits of colored glass tesserae with which it is worked. Five religious medallions at each of the four points of the cross and the center or apex shows the crucifixion or Christ on the cross. "Roma" in mosaic at the bottom, just above the lower medallion. We have several suberb Italian mosaic pieces, both religious and non so, be sure to browse some while you're with us. Breathtaking!
Very good to excellent condition. There is a bit of 'speckling' to the nickel plating, tarnish specks but no losses and none of the bronze beneath showing through. There is some wear to the silver finish on the medallions. I've looked closely at the mosaic inlay and there are a few of the red glass tesserae missing from around the center crucifixion medallion but I really am not seeing any other losses. A magnificent piece, quite rare in the size and condition! See pictures for all measurements.
