Micromosaic pedestal table with views of Rome, Italy, circa 1820-1830

Tripod pedestal table in blackened wood, adorned with gilded bronzes and topped with a black marble circular top inlaid with micromosaic medallions with polychrome decoration illustrating the famous monuments of Rome.

In the center, a perspective of St. Peter's Square. Around it, 6 medallions punctuate the composition, representing the ruins of the Temple of Vesta, the Pantheon, the Arch of Titus, the Colosseum, Piazza del Campidoglio and the Temple of Hercules Olivarius. The whole is bordered by a belt of red marble tesserae.

Roman work circa 1820/1830.

Height: 73 cm.
Diameter: 63.5 cm.

Around 1730, Alessio Mattioli discovered how to obtain tesserae of glass whose hue does not vary, using various fusion processes.
Giacomo Raffaelli (1753-1836) revived the micromosaic technique, using these glass tesserae, smalti filati, often no thicker than a millimeter. These tesserae are then fixed with putty. In 1775, at the age of 22, he held the 1st exhibition of miniature mosaics in his studio in Rome, now known as micromosaics. The exhibition was a great success and led to a brilliant career, during which he produced a large number of varied works.

Micromosaics enjoyed their golden age in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. During this period of the Grand Tour, the European aristocracy visited Italian cities, particularly Rome. They contributed to the birth of the workshops where these travel souvenirs in micromosaic were produced. By 1820, Rome had more than twenty workshops. They produced jewelry, paper plates, micromosaic boxes and, for the wealthy, furniture and paintings.

Micromosaics are represented in many museums: Victoria & Albert Museum, Minoritenkirche in Vienna, Hermitage in Saint Petersburg,...

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