Antique 19th Century Italian Micro Mosaic Plaque with Figure, 14k Etruscan Mount, Grand Tour Souvenir

Some time ago I bought out the drawers of an old jeweler’s workbench in Paris, and there were lots of gorgeous century-old hand carved Italian cameos and micro mosaics, all little works of art, and all passed down through generations of goldsmiths, jewelers. I love that, in France, many generations of a family stay in the family business, apprentice and eventually take it over, passing one generation to the next. This sale marked the closing, end of the line, and there were incredible treasures to be had. I only bought a few lots, and this is one. I’ve had them for a couple decades, myself. I’m nostalgic about such things. But it’s time to part with my own collections and I will offer each individually. Someone in Italy should buy them, have their goldsmith make up the mounts and offer them for the monstrously high prices they charge there for such Grand Tour souvenirs. It’s interesting, travelers would buy these uncounted, take them to French or English goldsmiths to create the mounts after they got back home. 

Very good condition for age and type. This is a Georgian ear mosaic, likely initially a part of a necklace or brooch. As you can see, the figure bust against blue sky is in colored glass tesserae, all of which are in place and solid, flat, in the green glass basin, which does have a couple of hairlines, marked with x. It is mounted and solid, and has a wide strap across the back through which a ribbon can be strung to wear as a choker or one to have mounted or modified – ring, brooch, pendant, or just enjoy the plaque in your own collection and display, as I have.