ARCHAEOLOGICAL-REVIVAL GOLD AND MICROMOSAIC THEATRICAL MASK ...

Hammer

£62,000

ARCHAEOLOGICAL-REVIVAL GOLD AND MICROMOSAIC THEATRICAL MASK BROOCH BY CASTELLANI,
POSSIBLY BY LUIGI PODIO, CIRCA 1850
the micromosaic depicting Bacchus is set against a cream ground, within a red and blue enamel frame, the border and batons decorated with twisted wire and beading.

The micromosaic reproduces part of a 3rd Century AD mosaic (now in the Capitoline Museums, Inv No MC0392) depicting theatrical masks which decorated the Thermae Decianae.

Signed to the reverse with interlaced Cs

Weighs 29.3gms

Measures 5cm long and 3.4cm wide

Provenance: Property of descendants of the Miles family.

Judy Rudoe writes in the catalogue Castellani and Italian Archaeological Jewelry, The Bard Graduate Center, p. 157: “Judging from the company’s daybooks and stock inventories, production of masks was in full swing in the years 1852 and 1853.
A ‘fibula maschera scenica’ (brooch with theatrical mask) was sold to a Mr. Miles in December 1852 for 50 scudi, while the stock inventory for that year includes several mosaic masks.”

Note: Another Micromosaic brooch with theatrical mask made by Castellani appeared in the sale of objects from Alfredo Castellani’s estate which took place on the 15th December 1930. This is referenced and illustrated in the catalogue Castellani and Archaeological Jewelry, The Bard Graduate Center, p. 156, fig. 6-7.