Iridescent Florentine micro mosaic scarab beetle pendant c.1860.
Particularly fine depiction of a scarab beetle with detailed legs and secondary wings. Cleverly scattered iridescent tesserae to convey the shimmer of the beetle’s wing.
Micro mosaic workshops in Rome and Florence supplied mosaics for jewellers through the entire c19th though the fashion for scarab beetle mosaic set in Etruscan Revival styles was particularly popular 1860-70.
Original ropetwist gilt-metal mount.Formerly a brooch now converted to be worn as a pendant.
1.25 inches diameter.