Ave Caesar, Morituri Te Salutant

Antique Micromosaic of the Colosseum, Rome, c. 1860

€ 1,690.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Antique Micromosaic of the Colosseum, Rome, c. 1860

Description

This description was automatically translated from German. If you have any questions about this piece of jewellery, we will be happy to help!

Ave Caesar, morituri te salutant - "Hail to thee, Caesar, the moribund salute thee!" According to tradition, gladiators greeted the Roman ruler with this phrase when they were fighting for their lives in the Colosseum. For centuries, the most famous of all ancient amphitheaters in the heart of Rome was the site of bloody spectacles. Travelers who visited Rome on the Grand Tour in the 19th century were particularly fond of bringing home micromosaics with views of the city as souvenirs. This example, dating from around 1860, shows an oval mosaic of the arena built between 72 and 80 AD under Emperor Vespasian, which was converted into a city fortress for the Frangipani dynasty in the Middle Ages. The view from the south-west side shows the partially ruined state of the monumental arena, which is perhaps precisely why it is so impressive. The artist has succeeded in capturing the atmosphere and lighting conditions in tiny glass tesserae. With astonishing ingenuity and attention to detail, the brooch shows the building, which has become the epitome of Roman power and greatness, but also reminds us of the inevitable transience of all earthly splendor. A simple, modern setting in 14-karat yellow gold holds the ancient mosaic securely in place. This means that the piece of jewelry, which came to us from London, can be worn again without any problems.

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Around 1775, Giacomo Raffaelli and Cesare Aguatti in Rome invented a new technique for working glass into tiny mosaics, which became known as "mosaici filati" (spun mosaics). Using this technique, jewellery and small everyday objects such as snuffboxes, boxes and paperweights could now also be decorated with mosaics, which had previously adorned the walls and floors of Italian churches. The most famous mosaic factories of the 18th and 19th centuries were located in Rome, especially in the Vatican, and their most beautiful and sought-after works depict special views of the city of Rome and its famous buildings, which were bought by travelers who visited the "Eternal City" and wanted to take a souvenir with them.

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Size & Details

Ave Caesar, Morituri Te Salutant

€ 1,690.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Our Promise

We want you to be 100% satisfied! For that reason, we examine, describe and photograph all of our jewellery with the utmost care.

You can rely on our years of experience in the trade and our expertise as a professional art historians for reviews of the antique jewellery. As a member of various trade organisations and the British Society of Jewellery Historians, we remain committed to the highest possible degree of accuracy. In our descriptions, we always also indicate any signs of age and defects and never hide them in our photos – this saves you from any unpleasant surprises when your package arrives.

Should you for some reason not be satisfied, please don’t hesitate to contact us so that we can find a solution together. In any case, you can return any article within one month and we will refund the full purchase price.

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Ave Caesar, Morituri Te Salutant

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