Victorian Mosaic Bird Earrings

Victorian 14k pietra dura mosaic bird earrings, circa 1875, possibly originally collar buttons converted with carved jet drops at some point in the last 150 years. The workmanship is Vatican quality, a term that refers to the finest mosaics. While the image looks painted on, it's actually tiny pieces of colored agate and marble, hand-cut before the benefit of lasers, and painstakingly fit into the white marble field.

Details: Measuring approximately 2 3/8" long from top of ear wire curve to bottom of the drop. The bird plaques themselves measure 5/8" in diameter. Lightweight and easy to wear with a 6.6 gram weight for the pair. The wires, fittings and bezel are not marked but professionally tested to 14k.

Condition: In excellent condition with minimal wear. 

History: Pietra dura is a term for the inlay technique of using cut and fitted colored stones to create images. Such mosaics have been produced for literally thousands of years, with earliest examples attributed to the Ancient Greeks. Walls and panels have been produced which are so well-crafted as to resemble oil paintings from just a few feet away.

The popularity of European travel in the 19th century, often referred to as "The Grand Tour" and considered essential to the completion of a well-bred person's education, encouraged artisans to produce small portable souvenirs like jewelry using classical and popular naturalistic themes in micro mosaic form. Mosaic craftsmen in Rome teamed with jewelers in Florence to produce beautifully designed earrings, rings, brooches and necklaces for the elite to purchase as a remembrance of their trip.