Parthenon Micromosaic Pendant

$385

This one-of-a-kind necklace is composed of:

  • Victorian Micromosaic dress pin from the late 1800s featuring a depiction of the Parthenon created with tiny pieces of glass. Created in Italy, this piece was sourced in England.

  • This necklace measures a standard 18” on a 14k gold filled chain, with the pendant measuring 1" in width.

THE HISTORY

Micromosaics are a special form of mosaic that uses unusually small mosaic pieces of glass to make small figurative images. This technique goes back to ancient Roman times where the oldest surviving mosaics include some very finely worked panels from the ruins of Pompeii. 

Wearing micromosaic jewelry became popular during the Grand Tour period (17th–19th century). Members of rich European families would travel around Europe, taking in the sights and cultures of different countries. Italy was a popular tourist spot as it had a long and prestigious history in arts and culture — a favorite subject in aristocratic circles. 

Mosaic work jewelry of this period usually depicted famous Italian landmarks such as the Colosseum and St. Peter's Basilica, though occasionally Roman mythology was a subject too. The richest tourists would commission their own mosaics, with animals and famous works of art being favorite subjects. The small size of the micromosaic was appealing; micromosaics could be worn on the Grand Tourists' continuing journey, or sent back home to loved ones as a kind of fore-runner to modern postcards.

Micromosaic jewelry later fell out of fashion in the 1870s.

SHIPPING
Free standard shipping on all orders over $200 within the United States via USPS. Orders ship within 1-3 days of order placement. Custom or altered orders ship within 7-10 days of placement.
 
International orders ship in the same time frame using your choice of USPS First Class International or DHL.
 
Please visit our FAQ Page for more shipping, delivery, return, and other details.
 
FINANCING
We are thrilled to offer financing through Affirm - if you wish to use Affirm as you payment option, simply add your item(s) to your cart and select Affirm at checkout.
 
For all questions concerning Affirm's per-qualification, soft credit check, and interest, visit our Financing with Affirm Guide.

COMPOSITION

All of our modern heirlooms are designed with elements mostly from the late 1800s - 1920s and the highest quality solid gold and gold-filled components. To learn more about different types of gold and composition, check out our Gold Jewelry Guide.

CARE

We make, design, and restore each piece of jewelry with the hope you will love and enjoy your modern heirlooms for many years to come. Check out our Jewelry Care Guide for tips on how to care for your pieces so they last a lifetime.

Please visit our FAQ Page for other questions and details.

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