EXQUISITE 18K YELLOW GOLD MICROMOSAIC OVER OBSIDIAN BROOCH, PLINIO'S DOVES (SOSO OF PERGAMON), CIRCA 1900.
 
Presented for your consideration, an outstanding museum-quality Italian Grand Tour Era brooch consisting in a famous micromosaic scene containing four (4) doves over a rectangular obsidian, framed in 18K solid yellow gold. 
The exquisite scene represents the Soso of Pergamon's doves: When Eumenes II, king of Pergamon, decided to enrich his palace with mosaics, he commissioned them from two famous artists: Hephaestion and Soso of Pergamon, the only mosaist who deserved to be remembered in the pages of Pliny ( The Natural History, 1st century AD). Soso's wit was brilliant, for the center of a room he imagined an scene that represented  four doves drinking from a bronze vessel.
 
As seen at the pictures, unfortunately the obsidian is cracked on its low right part, but it has been masterfully restaured and thankfully the crack does not affect the general integrity of the doves. The brooch has been priced accordingly. 
 
The micro mosaic is undoubtedly crafted with great care and attention to the detail with smallest tesserae/tiles, cut into a translucent obsidian plaque.

This brooch has a retractable hinged bail and a C clasp.
 
Please, refer to the pictures, they speak by themselves :)
 
WEIGHT : 15.65gr
MEASURES:  the 18K yellow gold frame measures 41.50 X 34mm. 
ESTIMATED AGE: circa 1900
GENERAL CONDITION: very good/good  general condition, even considering the obsidian is cracked because it does not affect the general integrity of the doves (priced accordingly). Please refer to the detailed pictures.
 
 
ADDITIONAL INFO:
 
(1)The term Grand Tour refers to 17th through 19th century custom of a trip by young rich people to Europe, especially to Italy.
 
(2)The pioneers of this wonderful art were both Greeks and Romans. Italians began creating micromosaics in the Renaissance and gained great popularity in the mid-19th century, when the center of production was the beautiful and immortal Rome.
The micromosaics were applied to different objects such as pieces of jewelry. Favorite scenes to stage include Roman landscapes, religious and mythological themes, flowers, animals, and exterior scenes or scenes inspired by works of pictorial art. The smaller mosaics come from works from the period between the end of the 18th century and the end of the 19th century. The beauty and quality of the micromosaic depended exclusively on the artistic skill of the craftsman as well as his inspiration and aesthetic criteria. Authentic works of art were created that are currently exhibited in museums or private collections of avid collectors whose fascination is passed down from generation to generation.