Antique 1900s Micromosaic floral picture frame

Antiques : Micromosaic

 

What an adorable and colorful little picture frame! The art of micromosaic jewelry and vanity items dates back to the end of the 18th century. It became fashionable when the remains of Pompeii were discovered in 1748 under the ashes of the 79 AD eruption of Vesuvius, and the first micromosaic pieces made in Naples and Rome were miniatures of temple ruins and copies of the frescos found in the villas of Pompeii. Later they became highly desirable "souvenir" items bought by tourists visiting Italy. Today, the collectors are numerous and a picture frame like this is very sought after because of its fine workmanship and its rarity. Another charming thing about it is its small size: 2½ x 2" (65 x 50 mm) and the oval opening is just ideal for a miniature photograph: 1⅝ x 1¼ " (42 x 30 mm). It still has the original oval glass and metal back which simply presses into place. There is a small hole on the side of the press-in back piece that makes us think that it once had a tiny swivel tongue for extra safety. However, the metal oval still holds firmly in place. The picture frame is standing on a twisted copper foot and is marked MADE IN ITALY on the back. The little mosaic tiles seem to be all there, although there are some not completely even and we cannot tell if it was like that from the beginning. If you look at the pictures you will see that it doesn't detract from the beauty of this frame. Considering it is about 100 years old, it is in stunning condition. It will ship Priority registered airmail for $ 9 in the countries neighboring Switzerland and $ 11 anywhere else in the world. This fantastic little picture frame would be a great addition to any micromosaic collection!

Item ID: RLA267