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Micromosaic Snuff Box
Micromosaic Snuff Box
Micromosaic Snuff Box
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Micromosaic Snuff Box

  • Intricately rendered, this Italian micromosaic plaque set in this snuff box depicts Pliny’s Doves
  • The design is after a popular motif praised by Pliny in his Natural History
  • Crafted of ebonized wood, the box is mounted with gilt bronze decoration
  • Get complete item description here
$28,500
Item No. 31-4085

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Description
This exceptional micromosaic snuff box represents the heights of this ancient art form. Depicting four doves sitting atop a bronze dish, the inset micromosaic captures one of the most famous and highly desirable classical motifs. Known as Pliny’s doves, the design comes from a Roman floor mosaic at Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli, which is believed to be a copy of a lost ancient Greek mosaic at Pergamon that Pliny describes in his Natural History. Here,. . .
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This exceptional micromosaic snuff box represents the heights of this ancient art form. Depicting four doves sitting atop a bronze dish, the inset micromosaic captures one of the most famous and highly desirable classical motifs. Known as Pliny’s doves, the design comes from a Roman floor mosaic at Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli, which is believed to be a copy of a lost ancient Greek mosaic at Pergamon that Pliny describes in his Natural History. Here, the popular image is intricately rendered from hundreds of tiny glass and ceramic tiles known as tesserae, each piece perfectly matched for color, size and placement. The plaque is mounted within a gilt bronze and ebonized wood box.

Strongly evocative of classical antiquity and the monumental decorative mosaics of ancient Greece and Rome, micromosaics were composed of small pieces of glass and precious stone. The craft flourished in Rome throughout the nineteenth century, largely driven by the influx of wealthy tourists on the Grand Tour seeking luxurious souvenirs to send home. One of the most demanding ventures undertaken by early 19th-century artisans, these pieces are rare treasures today.

Early 19th century

3 1/8" wide x 2 1/4" deep x 1" high
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Micromosaic Snuff Box
Period: 19th Century
Type: Snuff/Tobacco Boxes
Style: Neoclassical
Depth: 2.25 in. (5.72 cm)
Width: 3.13 in. (7.94 cm)
Height: 1.0 in. (2.54 cm)
Micromosaic Snuff Box
The Grand Tour: An Education of High Culture and Collecting

  This breathtaking, exhibition quality micromosaic is attributed to Domenico Moglia   In order to experience the unique qualities of a variety of artistic and cultural experiences it is necessary to leave the...

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Buy with Confidence

At M.S. Rau, we are committed to building a long-term, rewarding relationship with each and every client. That’s why your purchase is backed by our 125% guarantee.

Learn More

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The M.S. Rau Difference

The M.S. Rau Difference

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M.S. Rau is committed to offering fine art of the highest caliber and we seek paintings and sculpture by historically renowned artists, often with impressive provenance. The large majority of our works of art come from private collections; many are fresh to the market. Founded on Bill Rau’s expertise in the field, our specialisms range from Old Master pictures to Modern Art masterpieces. We regularly exhibit Dutch, Flemish, and Italian Old Masters, Academic, Orientalist, Barbizon, Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, Maritime & Sporting, British Neoclassical and American Illustration.

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For more than a century, M.S. Rau has offered clients a superb selection of the highest quality jewelry. From the rarest colored diamonds, to the most sublime gemstones, to the most exquisite designer jewelry, M.S. Rau houses an extraordinary collection of fine jewels to satisfy the most discerning collector. Stunning creations by Tiffany & Co., Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Harry Winston and Patek Philippe are offered alongside extreme rarities such as vivid yellow, pink and blue diamonds, coveted Burma and Kashmir sapphires and elusive Golconda diamonds prized for their fire and perfection. Iconic jewels from the Art Deco, Edwardian, Art Nouveau and Victorian periods round out the collection.

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Since 1912, M.S. Rau has been recognized as a leader in the antiques industry and today our collections of rare silver, furniture, clocks, porcelain, glass and objets d'art are second to none. Our commitment to curating the world’s most extraordinary and beautiful treasures has remained steadfast and our acquisition philosophy is simple: seek out and acquire only the very finest works whose provenance, beauty and rarity set them apart from all others. Our clients can be certain that each and every piece in our gallery has been hand-selected and carefully vetted for authenticity, condition and provenance. And, because our network of contacts spans generations, we are often able to acquire pieces that may have otherwise never been available on the market.

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