I used to deal in the most exquisite antique micro mosaics and sort of got away from it. This is an oversized Georgian to Victorian era Grand Tour souvenir of someone's visit to Italy, this is a spectacular and large brooch with guard chain, and a pristine early micro mosaic Micro Mosaic mounted in an ornately worked and perfectly kept brooch which tests 14k gold. I was a bit surprised by that, as the top didn't look so much like karat gold. The back certainly does, and the top half is just a bit elaborately worked, gold balls and stringing and a little surface texturing - quite a work of art in its own right even before you count in that superb micro mosaic. I have 14k and 18k acid, so it is possible it would be 15k or 16k gold. It will not test out at 18k for certain. Early, it has lots of tiny round sand-sized tesserae, and not a single one out of place. A magnificent piece! The old box is just a prop and does not go with the brooch (won't even close with it there - just shows it off in period. Again, box will not be included.
Very good to excellent condition throughout. Magnificent micro mosaic without a single tiny colored glass tesserae missing or raised. The generous and beautiful mount, a bit to the Etruscan aesthetic, has been very well cared for and doesn't have so much as a ding or dent. It acid-tested at 14k both front and back, and it has the fine old finback and c-clamp, but also a safety or guard chain and pin, likely a newer addition for safety, but the tiny mount seems original there. Also a safe guard on the hinged pinback to be sure it won't stick the wearer. Large at 51mm x 43mm and also deep. Without adding in the depth of pinback, it is 8mm in depth. Superb collection piece you'll feel safe wearing. Box is not included. Full measurements also noted on the photos, both in inches and mm.
