A splendid Victorian to Edwardian Italian micro mosaic and silver bracelet, the kind of work we recognize as from Rome. Turning the bracelet around, one confirms it, as it has elegant Etruscan type silver work that incorporates the R O M A, too. This would have been a late Victorian to early Edwardian era Grand Tour souvenir. Doves, flowers, and tiny glass tesserae with even a slightly 3-dimensional rise to the pair of lovebirds or doves. The sturdy silver bangle-looking bracelet is slightly oval, has a hinged joint and the corresponding joint is the sliding bar clasp. Black ground color so it is superb against the silver, shows off the flowers and birds beautifully. Look closely, the even finer tesserae work on the doves is slightly in bas relief to give them additional life. I've been to Rome many times. We've supplied many micro mosaics to the trade there, only to arrive and find them 3-4 times out price. Buy it from us, wear it there, use the savings to fund your own Grand Tour! I've pulled out the stashes of antique jewelry and will be working at getting it all listed in weeks ahead. Do come back and pick your favorites. SO many treasures! Thank you for following us, and for your many years of business. We love what we do!
Very good to excellent condition for age and type, it is not perfect. I will point you to our photos where I have put a little 'x' to draw attention to 3 flaws I'm aware of. First, one Etruscan tip on the hinge/clasp bar is flattened or has a top portion missing. Also, looking closely at the micromosaic work, which is nearly entirely complete, I can tell there is one place that has a fill for a couple of lost black tesserae. Perhaps a chip that has been filled in. It's not noticeable in wear at all. But with a loupe you will see it. Our images are vastly enlarged, and I think you can clearly see it where we've pointed it out. Wears beautifully just the same. These old ones aren't huge. Wrists used to be smaller than we've evolved to have now, more than 100-150 years later. The interior circumference is 6.25". My wrist is just a touch under that and I can wear this just fine. I think it will depend on if your wrist is slender and the width allows you the fit. A very round wrist might not fit even though it is 6.25". The width of the oval form inside is broad enough to hold your wrist up to 2 3/16" as long as it's that you're medium to big-boned. Do remember, should you buy and it won't fit, we do accept returns. For many, it's the display value that will sway the choice. The tesserae are very secure. nothing lifted or loose. Bracelet has a side-band width overall of .5" Measurements also appear on photos. Bracelet box shown in a couple of photos is not included.
