Close to Perfection: A Singular Micro Mosaic Bracelet
Georgian, yes; regal, surely; impressive, no doubt. Yet all that pales when you find yourself captivated by what seems to be an oil painting in miniature that really needs to be hanging in the museum. What we are able to offer is a micro mosaic of the highest order rivaled only by a few even more exacting ones that are usually plaques set into boxes housed in public or private art collections. Micro mosaics are composed of thousands of tiny "tesserae" or tiles that are made from glass thread, which is heated and melted until it is like a fine hair, and then cut into tiny segments or tesserae. These very small tiles are painstakingly hand assembled and placed into a matrix or pattern, which then actualizes the desired image. The final stage of the process involves waxing and polishing to create the seamless surface finish characteristic to this art form. Each tiny tesserae in this micro mosaic measures less than a millimeter, some only a 1/3 of a millimeter resulting in roughly 1,750 tiles in this one rectangle.
This mosaic landscape is set into a black glass-like composition that is surrounded with a simple bezel, and finally mounted into graceful rococo scrollwork of shell motifs, asymmetrically arranged S-curves, and spheres. The metalwork is Pinchbeck, a unique beautiful metal alloy of copper and zinc substituted for gold (see our "Reference" section under "Glossary of Terms" for more information), which possesses the warmth and look of old gold while maintaining its luster better than other materials. Pinchbeck was rarely used after 1830. The bracelet itself incorporates six (6) intricate chains of rose-colored Pinchbeck, creating a great amount of visual texture and interest. The surround is yellow gold hues of Pinchbeck; its base and that of the micro mosaic is of rose gold toned Pinchbeck.
The scene is a landscape of graceful trees, a tranquil river and its gentle waterfall with river rocks cupping the water’s edge as the background captures what perhaps is a ruined aqueduct or an unused bridge in disrepair, long forgotten. The range of the colors employed is quite remarkable. Such is the extraordinary realism of a micro mosaic, that when viewed from any distance, appears to be painted with oil or enamel; you must come up very close to notice that this curious art form is an assemblage of tiny dots of glass. This is about as fine as they come.
The landscape scene itself measures 1 inch by 1-1/8 inches (2.5 cm by 2.8 cm). The black glass-like composition measures 1-1/8 by 1-1/4 inches in height (2.8 cm by 3.1 cm). The entire bracelet piece, including mounting, measures 2-1/8 inches high by less than 1-3/4 inches (5.4 cm by 4.4 cm). Each chain measures less than 1/4 of an inch and together 1-1/2 inches in total width (0.5 cm by 3.8). The complete bracelet measures 6-7/8 inches in length (17.5 cm) and drapes beautifully. Grand in scale without overstating its impact.
Condition of the micro mosaic is excellent with all tesserae intact; one tiny area the size of about 1 mm has three tesserae pushed inward slightly. Black glass is in fine condition. Retains a highly polished look. The clasp is secure and almost completely hidden when the bracelet is worn. All chain links intact and appear to be original. Circa 1820 - 1830.
