Monday, September 22, 2014

Let The Micro Mosaic Jewelry Art Fascinate You

By Karina Frost


Imagining the world without a single hint of jewelry is like being trapped inside a room with nothing but dull walls. This is one reason why jewelers all over the world are admired for their works. Without them and without their creations, this place would lack the color and vibrancy that it has now.

Like all the things that exists, jewelries have evolved from single dots to what we see now. There is one particular kind however, that is strikingly beautiful for every jewelry connoisseur out there. That is what is now known to the world as the micro mosaic jewelry.

On the 19th century in Italy, Rome to be specific, this kind of craft became popular for aristocrats. The rich families in Europe embark on a Grand Tour where they visit the different countries of the continent. Italy was the usual topic in these visits because of its beauty and its booming economy. Rome, Italy was the leader in glass ware production and this is when the micromosaic art in jewelry developed.

Based on the concept of Mosaic, the micro mosaic art is a little bit distinct from the original one because of the particles or tiles that are used in the process of making the piece. The small tiles that are used in making the design is a type of glass that is calle the tesserae. Customized jewelry were the fad during the 19th century. In this case, the aristocrats would need to pay more.

Pendants, earrings and brooches are the most common pieces made from this kind of art. The fine pieces of varied colored tesserae are cemented on a flat surface usually metal or stone. Some people even use glass as the blank canvas. After cementing and drying the design, it is then framed and the piece is finished.

The most amazing thing about it is that you would need to use a microscope to determine if it is micromosaic or if it is hand painted. The usual deduction of other people is that it is painted when in fact it is not. The pieces being sold served as remembrances that they have visited this particular place. So, before the post cards and the printed shirts were invented, they had jewelry.

Aside from the micro mosaic which originated from Rome, Italy, other forms such as the Florentine and the Venetian mosaic are considered as micromosaic art. Florentine art, also known as Pietra Dura is crafted by using thin and small slices of authentic stones to create an image. It is still cemented to a larger but darker stone to contrast the color of the design.

Antique micro mosaic pieces are being auctioned nowadays and is worth a lot. If you have one and you plan on auctioning it, you need to consider some factors to determine how much it is really worth. How well the condition of the jewelry is, the precision of the work and the size of the tesserae are some of the determining factors. The smaller the tile size is, the higher the price would be.

In hardwork and craft alone, this kind of object is priceless already. The smaller tesserae is used, the more you need to pay for it because the effort given to it is no joke. These kinds of crafts really shows the world what true art really is. It is not just beautiful but it has to have heart as well.




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