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Micromosaic Gold Mounted Jasper Snuff Box Early 19th Century Italian Gioacchino

$33,633.28

£25,725VAT Included

€29,942.30

CA$46,989.16

A$48,250.41

CHF 27,448.53

MX$633,717.98

NOK 311,944.02

SEK 328,317.68

DKK 223,785.67

About the Item

An Exceptional and Highly Important Micromosaic Gold Mounted Jasper Snuff Box, most probably by Gioacchino Barberi with the box likely by Moulinié, Bautte & Moynier. Rome & Possibly Geneva circa. 1810 Of green-coloured jasper, mounted in gold, the cover inserted with a micro mosaic panel of the finest quality, worked with a composition of the Capitoline Doves, having a later leather carrying box. This fine box features a micro mosaic panel of exquisite quality, probably by Gioacchino Barberi of the Barberi workshop in Rome. The panel shows the Capitoline doves, also known as the doves of Pliny. The original Roman mosaic was re-discovered in Hadrian's Villa as part of excavations there in 1737. This is one of the more commonly-encountered panels seen on boxes and other micro mosaic objects but there are several aspects to our panel that make it very rare indeed. As pointed out in Micromosaics: The Gilbert Collection, a summary of the pre-eminent Rosalinde and Sir Arthur Gilbert collection of such pieces currently housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum, it is very rare to find a micro mosaic of this subject that features the reflection of the central dove drinking from the water. Sir Arthur had six versions of this panel mounted on boxes in his collection and even with his exacting standards, only three of these pieces feature the reflection. When looking at micro mosaics in collections more generally, those without Sir Arthur's enormous bank balance behind them, the contrast in numbers is much more marked. Most of the examples that do show the dove's reflection fail to show the ripples in the water caused by the dove's beak breaking the surface and again this fine detail is present in our piece. A comparison with this box in the Gilbert collection is instructive. It is always difficult to reproduce curves effectively in this medium and the box in the Gilbert collection is much more blocky-see for example the execution of the mouldings on the base of the bowl from which the doves drink. The Gilbert box features silver gilt mounts and an opaque glass body whereas our piece features gold mounts and a jasper body, further proof that our piece was destined for a truly elite client as the price would have been extremely steep indeed when new. The Attribution to the Barberi Workshop Several members of the Barberi family in Rome were involved in the production of micro mosaics. Michaelangelo Barberi seems to have concentrated on large tops produced for furnishing purposes, particularly table tops, but his uncle Gioacchino Leone Ulisse (1782-1857) is recorded as a leading producer of miniature micro mosaic items. The Barberis enjoyed the patronage of an elite clientele of tourists and native consumers, clients including Emperor Napoleon III and countless members of Britain's aristocracy throughout the 19th century. A rare example of a table top made by Gioacchino Barberi was sold at Sotheby's New York 12 April 2011, lot 254. The piece was originally made for Prince Anatole Demidoff. Gioacchino's workshop was located at 99 Piazza di Spagna and he is believed to have pioneered the use of black enamel smalti, utilised by his firm when reproducing wall paintings from Herculaneum in the micro mosaic technique. A very fine animal subject snuff box by Barberi is illustrated in Jeanette Gabriel, The Gilbert Collection, Micromosaics, 2000, cat. 18. This piece was mounted in a box by A. J. Strachan of London and hallmarked for 1807-1808. Barberi is known to have entered in to a partnership with the Geneva-based firm of box makers Moulinié, Bautte and Moynier and a small number of boxes by the firm with Barberi micro mosaic plaques survive (see for example one which sold at Sotheby’s London, 10 May 2016, lot 254). Given the outstanding quality of our piece, it is likely to have been one of the joint productions of these two wonderful firms of artisans

Dimensions:
Height: 0.99 in (2.5 cm)Width: 3.35 in (8.5 cm)Depth: 2.56 in (6.5 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Gold
Place of Origin:
Italy
Period:
Early 19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
circa. 1810
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. A later leather carrying box.
Seller Location:
Benington, GB
Reference Number:
Seller: 29321stDibs: LU1183235270992

Materials

Gold

Antique Grand Tour Micro Mosaic Jewelry Box by Cesare Roccheggiani, Rome c. 1875

By Cesare Roccheggiani

Located in London, GB

A highly attractive and rare floral Grand Tour micromosaic jewelry or trinket box made by Cesare Roccheggiani in Rome, Italy, c. 1875. This is a beautifully detailed micro-mosaic box. The panel in the lid depicts a lush bouquet of spring flowers, including roses, forget-me-nots, daffodils, buttercups and crocus, amongst others. These are described in brightly coloured stone micromosaic inlaid into a black surround, lending the piece wonderful contrast. The more common subjects for similar micro mosaic boxes are architectural views of Rome; floral examples such as this are much harder to find. The panel is mounted in a box gilded in 24 carat gold. Another distinctive feature is the granulated finish around the lid and to the underside of the box: it is most unusual and lends the piece a lovely texture. A hand-painted champlevé enamel frieze wraps around the central body of the gilt metal box, depicting scrolling turquoise vines blooming with red berries along with blue, green and yellow vine leaves. The interior is lined in the original silk and in very good original condition. The maker’s name ‘C. ROCCHEGGIANI ROMA’ is emblazoned in gold to the interior of the lid beneath the motif of a cross surmounted by a crown. The lining of both the lid and body are bordered with a ropetwist detail. The lid closes with hooked clasp, and the hinge is in good condition. Cesare Roccheggiani was one of the most successful mosaicists in the late 19th century in Rome. He probably worked in Michelangelo Barberi’s workshop, and was in all likelihood related to Lorenzo Roccheggiani, a late eighteenth-century master mosaicist at the Vatican whose work included the altarpiece, Crucifixion of St. Peter after Guido Reni, and Nicolo Roccheggiani who worked on the Achilles Shield tabletop commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte, and later gifted to Charles X of France, now in the collection of the Louvre. Cesare Roccheggiani opened his premises on Via Condotti in Rome in 1874, and ran a production workshop including mosaicists, goldsmiths and other craftsmen. He was renowned as a source for fine quality Grand Tour mosaics...

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