Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 8

Victorian King Charles Spaniel Dog Micromosaic Brooch, circa 1870

About the Item

Fine quality micromosaic, depicting a King Charles Spaniel dog on his cushion, set as a brooch in 18ct gold. Dogs were a symbol of faithful love. The King Charles Spaniel breed was extremely popular amongst the English aristocracy, especially during the Victorian period, when Queen Victoria herself doted upon her spaniel, Dash. Although the Greeks and Romans had used mosaics for many centuries, it was the Italians who developed the art of micromosaics in the Vatican at the end of the 18th century. The Napoleonic expedition to Egypt in 1798 led to a great revival of classical interest and was reflected in the subject matter of the micromosaics, many images came from Roman murals, such as the Doves of Pliny, ancient mosaic floors and newly excavated archaeological sites. Micromosaics became very fashionable pieces at the time. During the 19th Century wealthy young aristocrats were expected to complete their education with a “Grand Tour” of Europe with Rome, Italy being an essential destination. Most mosaics were bought in plaque form and many were brought back to be turned into jewellery or put onto furniture as mementos of their journey. The majority brought back “archaeological” pieces depicting The Colosseum, The Forum, The Pantheon etc. However, they also brought back, a limited number with differing subjects such as landscapes, animals, mythology and more symbolic pieces e.g. Doves symbolising love, dogs faithfulness, and flowers which all had their individual symbolisms. The Micromosaic Technique Opaque lumps of enamel called Smalti of variegated hues were first baked in a furnace and then teased out into long filaments called Filati. The mosaicist arranged the thousands of colours as required into a palette like an artist would and broke off the tiny coloured strands (less than 1mm each) as he needed them. They were then placed in position upright into a shallow copper tray that had been lined with a slow drying adhesive medium. The tray was tilted on an easel and the mosaicist copied the painting or design that he was borrowing as a template. The dimensions are Width 4.3cm Height 3.6cm Depth 0.7cm Depth inc Brooch Pin 1.3cm
  • Metal:
    18k Gold
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 1.42 in (36 mm)Width: 1.7 in (43 mm)Depth: 0.52 in (13 mm)
  • Style:
    Victorian
  • Place of Origin:
    Italy
  • Period:
    Late 19th Century
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Circa 1870
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Pristine, no loss of tesserae or damage to Micromosaic, very minor surface scratches to crystal unable to see with the naked eye.
  • Seller Location:
    London, GB
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 21241stDibs: LU9224994843
More From This SellerView All
  • Victorian Emerald Diamond Pendant or Brooch, circa 1860
    Located in London, GB
    18ct gold and silver set Victorian, Diamond and Emerald Pendant or Brooch circa 1860 Floral and scroll motif design in 18ct yellow gold with emerald tips to the flowers with an art...
    Category

    Antique 1860s British Victorian Drop Necklaces

    Materials

    Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Silver

  • Victorian Reverse Intaglio Essex Crystal Bird Brooch
    Located in London, GB
    Essex crystal carved and painted showing a bird upon a cherry tree branch. Set on a mother of pearl background in 18kt gold. Essex Crystal or reverse intaglio...
    Category

    Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Brooches

    Materials

    18k Gold, Yellow Gold

  • Jugenstil Diamond Pendant Brooch, circa 1890
    Located in London, GB
    Jugenstil Diamond Pendant Brooch, circa 1890 18ct yellow gold and silver set, diamonds. Setting diamonds in silver, “silver set”, was a techni...
    Category

    Antique Late 19th Century Austrian Jugendstil Brooches

    Materials

    Diamond, 18k Gold

  • Art Nouveau Diamond Opal Pendant/Brooch, circa 1900
    Located in London, GB
    18ct gold & silver set Art Nouveau Diamond Opal Pendant/Brooch dated circa 1900 Five round opals with an articulated pear shaped opal drop, very well matched with lively play of colours and iridescence in reds, greens, blues and gold. Set in 18 carat yellow gold claw collets Two main transitional cut (old mine) diamonds 0.70ct. Mix of old mine and rose cut diamonds in an 18 carat yellow gold with “silver Set” channel setting , approx 1 ct total. G/H/I, VS2-SI2. Total diamond weight: approx 1.7carats Setting diamonds in gold with a thin layer of silver, “silver set”, was a technique used in the Georgian/Victorian/Art Nouveau period as white coloured gold and platinum were not yet available. A very thin layer of silver was applied to the gold, on which the diamonds were set, to show them off to their best advantage (as the yellow would reflect and distort the white colour of the diamonds). The Art Nouveau period was a short lived but worldwide movement which reached its peak at the end of the 19th Century and the first decade of the 20th Century. It had its roots in the Pre Raphaelite and Arts and Crafts movements in Britain in the 1860’s. Artists, such as William Morris, took their inspiration from the flora and fauna of nature and rejected the mass industrialisation and mechanisation of the Victorian age. Art Nouveau continued with this theme and has a distinctive appearance with soft, curved shapes and lines and often depicted natural designs such as flowers, birds and the female form. Before the Art Nouveau period, the emphasis had been to design pieces with an emphasis on gem stones, diamonds, rubies emeralds etc. However, during the Art Nouveau period, jewellers adopted the idea of using other semi–precious stones “from nature” such as agate, garnet opal, moonstone, aquamarine and experimented with a wide variety of new techniques e.g. enamelling. The “New Art” style became a worldwide movement encompassing all disciplines of the arts, and world class artists as far afield as Gaudi with his “modernisme” architecture in Spain, Louis Comfort Tiffany in New York with objects, Galle Glass in France and the Liberty & Co Archibald Knox designs in Britain, Jugendstil in Northern Europe and Faberge in Russia. The movement flared brightly but briefly and by 1910 it was already going out of style to be replaced by Art Deco. Detachable 18ct brooch...
    Category

    Antique Early 1900s British Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces

    Materials

    Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

  • Victorian Ruby Diamond Cross, circa 1850
    Located in London, GB
    An 18ct Cross with Rubies and Diamonds circa 1850 Single row of Calibré cut natural colour rubies framing a diamond set foliate central design. Single...
    Category

    Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Pendant Necklaces

    Materials

    Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver

  • Yellow Gold Victorian Natural Untreated Sapphire Diamond Bangle circa 1860
    Located in London, GB
    Seven natural, untreated blue sapphires in a period, Victorian bangle (bracelet) mounted with white diamonds dating from Circa 1860. 18ct yellow gold bangle set with 7 extremely well matched, natural untreated Sapphires...
    Category

    Antique 1860s British Victorian Bangles

    Materials

    Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

You May Also Like
  • Victorian King Charles Spaniel Dog Micromosaic Brooch, circa 1870
    Located in London, GB
    Fine quality micromosaic, depicting a King Charles Spaniel dog on his cushion, set as a brooch in 18ct gold. Dogs were a symbol of faithful love. The King Charles Spaniel breed was extremely popular amongst the English aristocracy, especially during the Victorian period, when Queen Victoria herself doted upon her spaniel, Dash. Although the Greeks and Romans had used mosaics for many centuries, it was the Italians who developed the art of micromosaics in the Vatican at the end of the 18th century. The Napoleonic expedition to Egypt in 1798 led to a great revival of classical interest and was reflected in the subject matter of the micromosaics, many images came from Roman murals...
    Category

    Antique Late 19th Century Italian Victorian Brooches

    Materials

    18k Gold

  • Victorian Micromosaic 14K Gold Brooch Depicting a King Charles Spaniel c. 1870
    Located in Goettingen, DE
    Victorian Micromosaic 14K Gold Brooch Depicting a King Charles Spaniel circa 1870 Delightful micromosaic brooch set in a gold frame. The fine inlaid work of colored glass mosaic on ...
    Category

    Antique Late 19th Century European Victorian Brooches

    Materials

    Onyx, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Micromosaic Brooch
    Located in New Orleans, LA
    This charming Victorian-era micromosaic brooch is a wonder of meticulous craftsmanship and intricate design. Depicting a friendly Cavalier King Charles Spaniel...
    Category

    Antique 19th Century Italian Victorian Brooches

    Materials

    18k Gold, Yellow Gold

  • Micro Mosaic 15 Karat Gold Pendant Brooch King Charles Spaniel
    Located in Wallkill, NY
    Wonderful Micro-Mosaic Brooch and Pendant, Depicting a King Charles Spaniel. Does double duty, truly a wonderful piece. Antique C style pin back. Set in 15kt Yellow Gold . Measuring...
    Category

    Antique 1860s Italian Brooches

    Materials

    Gold, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold

  • Victorian Micromosaic Cameo Brooch
    Located in New York, NY
    Late 19th Century stone cameo brooch with micromosaic dove details. Unusual to have the combination of the hand carved stone cameo with the micromosia...
    Category

    Antique Late 19th Century Italian Victorian Brooches

    Materials

    14k Gold

  • Victorian Micromosaic Daisy Brooch
    Located in New York, NY
    Victorian Micromosaic Daisy Brooch from the mid 19th Century. Delicate scale with extremely fine tesserai forming a charming daisy motif. Wonde...
    Category

    Antique 1860s Italian Victorian Brooches

    Materials

    Vermeil

Recently Viewed

View All