Floral Micro Mosaic Ring with diamonds

Antique Micro Mosaics

Made in Italy of tiny glass tesserae, these pieces were largely made for the Grand Tour trade. They were meant to be a high quality remembrance of a sojourn through Italy. Starting in the 1840s, some of the best quality mosaics came from the Vatican workshops. Scenes range from ancient ruins to flowers, animals, and classical symbols. They also evoke Byzantine mosaics dating from 500 AD in Italy and elsewhere.