19th Century Micromosaic 'Grand Tour' Decorative Box of Architecture Scenes

View Similar Items

19th Century Italian Grand Tour Steel Lidded Sarcophagus Box

19th Century Restauration Snuff Box with Micromosaic

Micromosaic and Pietre Dure Grand Tour Casket

Grand Tour Bronze Sarcophagus Form Box

Game Box, 19th Century

Late 19th Century English Game Box

French Mid-19th Century Lacquered Oak Reliquary Box

Early 19th Century Neoclassical Automaton Windmill Sewing Box

19th Century Italian Voting Box Tuscan Confraternity Carved Barrel Ballot Box

19th Century Turkish Brass Repousse Valet Shoe Shine Decorative Stand

A Mid 19th Century Mughal Style Silver Betel Box, Northern India

19th Century Swiss Black Forest Carved Thatched Roof Cottage Box

Want more images or videos?

Request additional images or videos from the seller

1 of 9

19th Century Micromosaic 'Grand Tour' Decorative Box of Architecture Scenes

About the Item

A ‘Grand Tour’ casket This lockable casket is made of English pollarded oak inset with five Italian polychrome micromosaic plaques. Micromosaic is a type of work consisting of thousands of tiny hand-made glass tiles, which are uniformly shaped into strings while at a hot temperature, cooled, cut and then placed by hand into the desired design. The plaques depict various scenes one may have seen while visiting Rome during a Grand Tour of Europe; an event for ‘young aristocrats’ in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Scenes include the ‘Doves of Pliny’ (top); Temples of Saturn and Vespasian situated in the Roman Forum (front); Pantheon and St Peter's Square (sides); and the Colosseum (back). The plaques have been attributed to the Studio del Musaico dell Reverenda Fabbrica di S. Pietro (Mosaic Studio of the Reverenced Work Shop of St. Peter’s) and were likely made in the early-to-mid-nineteenth century and brought to England and inserted into this casket. Studio del Musaico dell Reverenda Fabbrica di S. Pietro was established around 1576 to create architectural mosaics for the new basilica, and was later recognized as a distinct entity in 1727, supplying extraordinarily detailed views of Rome to the new industry of ‘tourism’, in the form of tabletops, tablets and jewellery, just as these plaques exemplify. The 2nd century AD floor mosaics in Hadrian’s villa in Tivoli, near Rome, were discovered in 1737, inspired the top scene of the ‘Doves of Pliny’. The side panels depicting the Pantheon and St Peter’s Square were inspired by the period’s local architecture, which is significant, as today the Pantheon has been since altered. As history tells us, in the early 17th century, Gian Lorenzo Bernini was commissioned to design and add two Baroque bell towers to the Pantheon, which was originally constructed in the 1st century BC under the orders of Marcus Agrippa, with 1st century AD modifications at Hadrian's direction. Critics later called them ‘the ass’s ears of Bernini’ and were removed in 1883. The scenes on this casket depict the Pantheon with the towers – a very rare illustration!

Attributed to:
Vatican Mosaic Studio (Cabinetmaker)
Dimensions:
Height: 10 in (25.4 cm)Width: 16 in (40.64 cm)Depth: 13 in (33.02 cm)
Style:
Classical Roman (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques:
Cut Glass,Oak
Place of Origin:
Italy
Period:
19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1840
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
London, GB
Reference Number:
Seller: 84141stDibs: LU95474411733

More From This Seller

View All

19th Century Grand Tour' Giltwood and Micromosaic Centre Table with Roman Scenes

Located in London, GB

A Grand Tour Centre Table The Top Attributed to Cesare Roccheggiani The carved gilt wood base in the manner of George Smith having four monopedia supports, each depicting leopards heads atop, with paw feet below, and conjoined by an incurved stretcher base having carved stiff leaf decoration, and raised on castors; the circular platform of marmoro nero, with a stylised Greek Key border within double Malachite reserves; the central micromosaic roundel depicts The Vatican from St Peter's Square, surrounded by eight separate roundels of The Pantheon of the Gods; the smallest of Rome's seven hills, the Capitoline; The Mauseoleum of Hadrian on the Tiber; The Roman Forum, with the remnants of the Temple of Vespasian; The Colosseum; the Temple of Vesta; The Arch of Titus, and the Tomb of Cecilia Metella. English / Italian, Circa 1875 The attribution to Cesare Roccheggiani is supported by Jeanette Hanisee Gabriel, former curator of the Gilbert Collection and Honorary Curator for the Gilbert Collection at the Victoria & Albert Museum. Provenance: From a Noble family, the 6th Earl of Macclesfield (1811-1896) then by descent. The base is similar in design to designs published by George Smith's A Collection of Designs for Household Furniture and Interior Decoration, 1808. The taste for monopedia supports was of fashion, in the Regency period and models of such were displayed in the 1851 Great Exhibition. The Macclesfield coat of arms depicts a shield with a central chevron and three leopard's faces. Views of Roman monuments was the most popular theme used by mosaicists in Rome in the beginning of the 19th century, supplying the flow of wealthy Grand tourists from Northern Europe. From small gold boxes...

Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Grand Tour Center Tables

Materials

Malachite

19th Century Grand Tour' Giltwood and Micromosaic Centre Table with Roman Scenes

$385,875

Rare 19th Century "Yachting" Maritime Desk Set with Historic Monogram

Located in London, GB

A rare nautical desk set The lockable oak felt-lined case, embossed with the initials 'AL' of the original owner, houses twelve writing implements and accessories, constructed in silver plate and gilt metal, using spheres and chain work decoration. A bespoke commission of undoubtedly unique character-and most likely having nautical connections-the various accoutrements executed in a uniform style reminiscent of rope work, buoys, and markers found on seafaring vessels. The set includes a pair of candlesticks, a chamber stick, inkwell, bell, letter opener, personal wax seal, a stamp container, paperweight, ash tray, sealing wax spoon...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Nautical Objects

Materials

Silver Plate, Metal

Rare 19th Century "Yachting" Maritime Desk Set with Historic Monogram

$16,924

19th Century Micromosaic Table Top with Views of Rome from the Grand Tour

Located in London, GB

A grand tour circular table top Possibly by Domenico Moglia The circular platform of marmore nero, inset with fine micromosaic panels consisting of hundreds of coloured glass tesserae; a central flower bouquet sit within a malachite border surrounded by a border including four cartouches in conforming malachite reserves representing Roman views including the Arch of Titus, the Temple of Vesta, the Capitoline Hill, and the Tomb of Cecilia Metella, connected by floral garlands. Italy, circa 1855 Domenico Moglia (1780 - 1862) Brothers, Luigi and Domenico Moglia, are celebrated as two of the few great mosaicists of the 19th century. Both are recorded as exhibiting at the 1851 Great Exhibition, London. Domenico's work included micromosaics plaques depicting views of 'the roman forum', 'the colosseum', and the 'temples of Paestum.' The Lombardi Museum contains a collection of architectural...

Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Grand Tour Tables

Materials

Malachite, Marble

19th Century Micromosaic Table Top with Views of Rome from the Grand Tour

$22,340

19th Century Coromandel Vanity Box with Silver Gilt Fitted Interior by Asprey

By Asprey International Limited

Located in London, GB

A Victorian Coromandel and Brass bound Dressing Case By Asprey The hinged cover with an inset brass monogram, the base with a jewellery drawer and two fitted internal trays, contai...

Category

Antique 19th Century English Victorian Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass, Silver, Vermeil

19th Century Coromandel Vanity Box with Silver Gilt Fitted Interior by Asprey

$11,508

19th Century English Travelling Dressing Case

By Edward & John Barnard

Located in London, GB

A mid-19th century lady’s travelling dressing case. The case is constructed in a finely marked coromandel, with inset brass handles and brass guard bands to the angles. The hinged lid rises to reveal in the upper section, a drop down document holder, with a mirror to the back, the parcel gilt pieces are engraved with a Viscountess’s coronet, probably Charles, 2nd Viscount Hardinge Cornwallis (1822-1894) and inset with turquoises and comprise a suite of four cut-glass jars, a liqueur flask with a fitted cup, the pull-out rear shelf houses seven jars for ink, potions and unguents. The lift out platform has sectional jewellery compartments, over, a pair of hexagonal based silver hall marked candlesticks, a thermometer, button hook, folding ruler...

Category

Antique 19th Century British Victorian Decorative Boxes

Materials

Silver

19th Century English Travelling Dressing Case

$38,587

19th Century Antique Children's Carriage

Located in London, GB

A Children’s Painted Calèche Modelled on a full-sized barouche, this fully functional children’s carriage was either goat- or dog-drawn. The fram...

Category

Antique 19th Century English Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal, Steel

19th Century Antique Children's Carriage

$16,924

Antique Late 19th Century Italian Grand Tour Decorative Boxes

Materials

Steel

19th Century Italian Grand Tour Steel Lidded Sarcophagus Box

$595

19th Century Restauration Snuff Box with Micromosaic

Located in Paris, FR

Small rectangular Restauration snuff box crafted in gold. The hinged lid is decorated with an oval micromosaic representing St. Peter's Square in Rome. Micromosaic is set in a gold s...

Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Charles X Tobacco Accessories

Materials

Gold

19th Century Restauration Snuff Box with Micromosaic

$5,303

Micromosaic and Pietre Dure Grand Tour Casket

Located in New Orleans, LA

The time-honored decorative techniques of pietre dure and micromosaic are combined in this rare and exceptionally-crafted Grand Tour casket. Serving as a m...

Category

Antique 19th Century European Greco Roman Decorative Boxes

Materials

Stone, Bronze

Micromosaic and Pietre Dure Grand Tour Casket

$34,500

Grand Tour Bronze Sarcophagus Form Box

Located in Stamford, CT

Unusual 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

Materials

Bronze

Grand Tour Bronze Sarcophagus Form Box

$475

Game Box, 19th Century

Located in Saint-Ouen, FR

Game box, 19th century. Napoleon III period game box, 19th century in precious wood marquetry. Measures: H: 5 cm, W: 22 cm, D: 13 cm.

Category

Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wood

Game Box, 19th Century

$1,498

Late 19th Century English Game Box

Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant

Lovely antique game box, made of mahogany. The box contains several games, with many bits and pieces. Not all complete. It is obviously that there h...

Category