Pietra Dura 900 Silver Italian Hardstone Mosaic Brooch – $295 – Sold Out

Circa 1880 (Victorian Period)
Pietra Dura Mosaic Brooch

Beautifully detailed Victorian Floral Brooch made of hard stone (Pietra Dura in Italian) surrounded by a beautiful bezel of 900 silver.  This brooch from the late 1800s Victorian Period features a pansy and forget-me-not depicted in brilliant reds, golds, rusts, blues & greens.  In Victorian times, both flowers symbolized remembrance, the forget-me-not for true love and the pansy for humility.  Was this brooch a gift token from a humble young man to his true love?

Produced primarily in Florence, Italy, Pietra Dura means refers to the fine art of inlaying a design composed of various semi-precious stones in a neutral background like the black marble base of this brooch. Commonly used stones include malachite, jasper, agate, aventurine, turquoise and lapis lazuli, with ivory and coral often used as accents.  Due to the amount of time and skill required to fashion “pietra dura”, they were and still are highly sought after, and jewelry made in this style were a “must have” memento of European travelers during the late 1800′s.

Measurements: This brooch is 1 3/8″ (35mm) x 1 1/8″ (30mm)

Condition: This pietra dura brooch is in very good antique condition, all pieces of the mosaic are present and tight in their setting. There is one tiny area near the frame that appears to have been chipped  however there is no indication of it being dropped or damaged at the frame so I would think this is prior to it being set. The frame is made even more beautiful due to the fine gold wirework and is in very good condition without loss.  Typical of well made and well cared for pieces of this era, its pin remains straight & sharp despite years of use. The old-style C-clasp with tubular hinged closure work perfectly and securely.  There are no signs of repair or restoration.

Markings: 900 and ITALY

Circa: 1880s Victorian Grand Tour era

This is an excellent and authentic example of Victorian-era Italian jewelry.  If fine Italian mosaics interest you, then this is it!