A LATE 18TH CENTURY GOLD MOUNTED HARDSTONE AND MICROMOSAIC BONBONNIERE THE MICROMOSAIC ATTRIBUTED...

A LATE 18TH CENTURY GOLD MOUNTED HARDSTONE AND MICROMOSAIC BONBONNIERE

THE MICROMOSAIC ATTRIBUTED TO GIACOMO RAFFAELLI (FL.1753-1836) ROME, C.1780

the circular green porphry turned box with a pull-off cover inset with a circular micromosaic plaque depicting a goldfinch perched on a branch within a floral border, with engraved gold mounts

7.5cm diameter

Catalogue Note

Giacomo Raffaelli was born in Rome in 1753 and it is believed his family worked as providers of smalti to the Vatican Mosaic Workshop and Giacomo studied painting and sculpture as a child. He became one of the most celebrated artists in hardstones and mosaics and is credited with the invention of micromosaics in about 1775. Famous works include: a life-size version of Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper, now in the Minoretenkirche in Vienna and the monumental 'Centrepiece of the Viceroy' at the Villa Carlotta, probably made for Eugene Beauharnais. Other objects by Raffaelli are at Syon House, Middlesex and in the Gilbert Collection.