EXTRAORDINARY, LARGE MICRO MOSAIC TABLE WITH VIEW OF ST PETER'S SQUARE. Vatikanische Werkstätten. ...

EXTRAORDINARY, LARGE MICRO MOSAIC TABLE WITH VIEW OF ST PETER'S SQUARE.

Vatikanische Werkstätten. Rom.

Date: 1st half of the 19th c.
Technique: Polychrome tesserae. Carved wood, metal.
Description: The large, round panel shows a bird's eye view of St Peter's Square with its collonades and St Peter's Basilica in the finest micro mosaic. Along the edge is a wide band with a three-dimensional meander frieze that impressively frames the motif.
Measurement: Table: height 78cm, ø 100cm. Micro mosaic: ø 83,5cm.
Mark: Old adhesive label with the insignia of the Vatican on the back of the plate.

Provenance:
Convent of the Sisters of Charity of St Carolus Borromeus, Maastricht.

Literature:
Hanisee Gabriel, Jeanette: The Gilbert Collection - Micromosaics, London 2000. Under cat.69 of the Gilbert Collection, a comparable, large table top is described and illustrated. It shows the same central motif of St Peter's Square as the here presented micro mosaic.

The production of the impressively finely crafted micromosaic with a view of St Peter's Square in Rome dates back to the beginning of the 19th century. It was created in the famous Vatican workshops, which had been producing large mosaics in Rome since 1576. In the 19th century, they turned to the art of micromosaics and revived the techniques of antiquity. Now small marvels were created with Roman views, replicas of famous paintings or depictions of animals. In the course of the "Grand Tour", they became popular objects and found their way to the travellers' home countries. In the case of this work, however, it is also possible that the Sisters of Charity of the Convent of St Carolus Borromeus received it directly as a gift from the Vatican.

Estimated shipping costs for this lot:
Arrangement after the auction.

Explanations to the Catalogue

Vatikanische Werkstätten
Decorative Arts and Objects
19th century
Micro Mosaic