Victorian Micro Mosaic Dove Earrings

The sweetest Victorian micro-mosaic peace dove earrings crafted in silver and most likely of Italian origin. Flying against royal-blue backrounds the doves are done in shades of grey and white, with the details of tiny beak and slightly tucked feet clearly defined by the expertly cut and placed miniature glass tiles, known as tesserae.

Everything about these says "love". A wonderful gift for an anniversary or perhaps the perfect "something blue" wedding accessory for someone seeking subtle antique flair.

Details: Measuring approximately 2 1/4" long from top of ear wire curve to bottom of the last drop. The wires test for sterling silver, the silver mountings for the mosaics around 800 silver. Lightweight enough for comfortable everyday wear at approximately 3.8 grams each. Will come complete with contemporary rubber backs to keep them secure on your lobe.

Condition: In excellent antique condition, with a light patina to the metal. The tiles are complete, no obvious missing pieces.

History: Mosaics, fashioned of small pieces of glass or hardstone called tesserae, have been produced for literally thousands of years, with earliest examples attributed to the Ancient Greeks. Micro-mosaics were developed in the late 18th century by the Italian craftsman Giacomo Raffaelli to cater to the "Grand Tour" crowd; in the 18th and 19th century a tour of archeological and historial sites throughout Europe was considered an essential part of an upper-class person's education, and this rite of passage became known as the "Grand Tour".

As these tiny treasures grew in popularity craftsmen in Rome teamed with jewelers in Florence to produce beautifully designed and sometimes impossibly small-scale mosiac art to set in decorative objects and jewels for the elite to purchase as a remembrance of their trip.