The design of this silver bracelet comprises seven oval, onyx panels, each decorated with a micro mosaic depicting a Roman ruin. Amongst the panels we can recognize the Temple of Portunus, the Pyramid of Cestius, the three remaining columns of the Temple of Pollux and Castor, the Colosseum, and the Temple of Hercules Victor, most of which can be found on the Forum Romanum.
Micro mosaics like these, created from hundreds of minute glass fragments known as 'tesserae', were popular souvenirs brought home from Rome during a 'Grand Tour', in which Victorian youngsters would travel through Europe as part of their cultural upbringing. Micro mosaic was used profusely in Roman art and interiors and found a revival at the end of the 18th Century, when many of these artworks were rediscovered in places such as Pompeii and Herculaneum.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Size: 17.5 cm / 7 inches long.
Weight: 37.25 grams.
Age: 19th Century, also known as the Victorian era, circa 1850s.
Material: The clasp carries a hallmark for 800/1000 silver, used in Paris after 1838.
Condition: In antique condition with some wear, consistent with its age. Two of the larger onyx frames, the ones depicting the Temple of Pollux & Castor and the Colosseum, display cracks on the front and back. I have had these two frames checked by a restorer who added some adhesive at the back, to ensure that they can be worn securely. A few other settings have small nibbles, which can be seen in the pictures.
Please note that the antique box is for display purposes only.