This Victorian era micromosaic brooch captures a spaniel dog in mid leap, rendered in hundreds of tiny colored glass tesserae set against a polished black onyx ground. The onyx panel, rectangular and richly black, holds the micromosaic scene within a twisted 14K yellow gold wire frame, a decorative detail typical of the period's taste for textured, sculptural metalwork. Micromosaic work of this caliber was painstaking to produce, with each tessera individually placed to build the dog's fur, the curve of its back, and the grassy ground beneath its paws. The gold has been tested via acid test and confirmed as 14K, a detail collectors of Victorian era jewelry will appreciate given the absence of a visible hallmark. The brooch measures 1.0 by 1.375 inches (25.4 by 34.9mm) overall and weighs 12.1 grams, with the onyx panel itself measuring 31.71 by 24.53 by 4.36mm. Fine examples of Victorian era micromosaic brooches of this caliber have sold in the range of $2,000 to $10,000, reflecting the level of craftsmanship and steady collector demand for this type of miniature mosaic art. Micromosaic brooches like this one were popular souvenirs and keepsakes of the Victorian era, prized for their miniature artistry and often given as tokens of affection or remembrance. This piece would suit a collector of Victorian era jewelry, a lover of micromosaic artistry, or anyone drawn to antique dog themed jewelry...
Category
Mid-19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Square Cut Jewelry & Watches
