I've just listed a 26" tall wall mirror framed in micro mosaic, and wrote a bit about the place in time of these Grand Tour souvenir treasures of Italy, and all I wrote there applies to this smaller wood frame/basin micro mosaic hand mirror, too. Tiny pieces of colored glass, called tesserae, are worked piece by piece into the cement material spread into that deep recess in the wood, and over a great deal of time, a bouquet and elegant images take form. The color is stunning; the uniqueness of the art a legacy that goes back to Byzantine and Roman times. This hand mirror is the older Victorian type, c. 1860-80, deep wooden frame and set with a mirror. We've often seen the mirror replaced (or stripped) and the hand mirror repurposed as a wall frame. Or lain flat and perfume bottles displayed on the mirror if it's large enough. Either way is gorgeous. Your own souvenir of your own Grand Tour to Italy, but buy it before the dealers in Italy find it or you'll pay triple upon arrival. Yes, we do often sell our micro mosaics and pietra dura antiques back to Italy for their current tourist trade.
Very good to excellent condition. No missing tesserae in this one, and a fine undamaged wood frame/basin that has no warp, no chips or breaks. Thoroughly cleaned, it's brilliant now. The frame measures 10.75" long. Measurements noted on our photos.
