Items Similar to 19th C. Italian Grand Tour Micro-Mosaic "Doves of Pliny" Box After Antiquity
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 8
19th C. Italian Grand Tour Micro-Mosaic "Doves of Pliny" Box After Antiquity
About the Item
Italian, likely Circa 1880.
This beautiful box has an exceptional Grand Tour Micro-mosaic plaque depicting the Capitoline Doves or Doves of Pliny after the Roman antiquity. Also by legendary maker Giacomo Raffaelli.
"These doves, known as the Capitoline Doves or Doves of Pliny, appear frequently as the subject of micromosaics. The image comes from a Roman floor mosaic discovered in 1737 at Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli, which in turn is believed to be a copy of a lost ancient Greek mosaic at Pergamon. The original is described by Pliny the Elder in his Natural History, completed in 77AD.
The term 'micromosaic' is used to describe mosaics made of the smallest glass pieces. Some micromosaics contain more than 5000 pieces per square inch. The earliest attempts at micromosaic revealed visible joins between the pieces (known as tesserae) and a lack of perspective. Later artists such as Antonio Aguatti made huge advances in micromosaic technique, resulting in renderings that were truer to life. Glass micromosaic technique developed in the 18th century, in the Vatican Mosaic Workshop in Rome, where they still undertake restoration work today.
Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996." - V&A
- Attributed to:Vatican Mosaic Studio (Artist)
- Dimensions:Height: 3.375 in (8.58 cm)Diameter: 4.25 in (10.8 cm)
- Style:Grand Tour (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:Bronze,Slate
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:C. 1880
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor wear to plaque commensurate with age and handling. However, the box has significant wear to surface as shown.
- Seller Location:Atlanta, GA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU7838238978562
About the Seller
5.0
Platinum Seller
These expertly vetted sellers are 1stDibs' most experienced sellers and are rated highest by our customers.
1stDibs seller since 2022
91 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: <1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Atlanta, GA
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
More From This SellerView All
- Italian Grand Tour 800 Silver, Enameled Malachite & Painted Roman Scene BoxLocated in Atlanta, GAItalian Grand Tour 800 Silver, Enameled Malachite & Painted Roman Scene Box. This fantastic antique box is rectangular in form heavily decorated with hand chased foliate scroll work...Category
20th Century Italian Grand Tour Decorative Boxes
MaterialsSterling Silver, Enamel
- 19th Century Chinese Export Lacquer Decorated Tea Caddy BoxLocated in Atlanta, GAChinese for the English market, 19th century. A fine quality antique Chinese export tea caddy decorated with beautiful gilding surfaces, a hinged lid which opens to reveal a tooled ...Category
Antique 19th Century English Chinese Export Decorative Boxes
MaterialsPewter
- Pair, 19th Century Grand Tour Gilt Bronze & White Marble CandelabrasLocated in Atlanta, GAItalian or French, early 19th century. A fantastic pair of 19th century Grand Tour gilt bronze candelabras in the neoclassical taste. The beautiful cast grape vines...Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Grand Tour Candelabras
MaterialsMarble, Bronze
- Austrian Bombe Form Dinanderie Tobacco Box, 19th Century or EarlierLocated in Atlanta, GAAustrian, 19th century or earlier. A fine quality antiqued tobacco box of bombe form with a hinged lid.Category
Antique 19th Century Austrian Campaign Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
MaterialsBrass, Tin
- 19th Century Grand Tour Bronze Figure of a Young Man as Dionysos or NarcissusLocated in Atlanta, GAItalian, late 19th century. A 'Grand Tour' patinated bronze figure of a young man, representing Dionysos (Bacchus), previously thought to be Narcissus. Good quality with heavy pat...Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Grand Tour Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsBronze
- Antique Grand Tour Style Marble & Gilded Brass Humidor Bamboo & Eagle MotifLocated in Atlanta, GAThis is a very unique example. Grand tour style with marble lidded box supported by four eagle figures and a Japonesque bamboo motif bordering.Category
Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
MaterialsMarble, Bronze
You May Also Like
- 19th Century Italian Micro Mosaic Grand Tour Paperweight The Doves Of PlinyLocated in Norwich, GB19th Century Italian micro mosaic grand tour paperweight - The Doves of Pliny. Rome - Circa 1870. Cartouche shaped black slate ground, inset ...Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Grand Tour Paperweights
MaterialsSlate
- 19th Century Italian Grand Tour Steel Lidded Sarcophagus BoxLocated in Stamford, CTRare 19th century Italian Grand Tour steel sarcophagus form box, circa 1880. Nice form, handsome desk-top accessory, great addition to any box collection. It is unusual to find this ...Category
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Grand Tour Decorative Boxes
MaterialsSteel
- A mid 19th century Italian grand tour Sorrento marquetry box circa 1860Located in Central England, GBA very fine Italian marquetry box dating to circa 1860 and made in the Sorrento region of Italy where local craftsmen were renowned for making ...Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Italian Grand Tour Decorative Boxes
MaterialsWood
- An Antique 19th C. Italian Micro Mosaic Floral Motif Jewelry BoxLocated in New York, NYA Marvelous Antique 19th Century Italian Micro Mosaic Floral Motif Jewelry Box. Step back in time with this exquisite Italian micro mosaic jewelry bo...Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Other Jewelry Boxes
MaterialsGold, Bronze
- Antique Micro Mosaic Floral Bouquet Bronze Box 19th CLocated in Big Flats, NYAn antique dresser box offers bronze construction with micro mosaic top having floral decoration, 19th century Measures - 3.25"h x 6"w x 1.75"d C...Category
Antique 19th Century Jewelry Boxes
MaterialsBronze
- Grand Tour Bronze Sarcophagus Form BoxLocated in Stamford, CTUnusual 19th century Italian Grand Tour bronze box in the form of a sarcophagus, circa 1880. Nice form, handsome desk-top accessory, great addition to any box collection. 5.5 inches...Category
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Grand Tour Decorative Boxes
MaterialsBronze