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Lot 31*,Y

Attributed to Giacomo Raffaelli (Italian, 1753-1836): A rare micromosaic circular plaque depicting a goldfinch set within a gold and silver gilt mounted tortoiseshell oval snuff box
The panel Roman, circa 1800

Fine Decorative Arts
29 November 2022, 14:00 GMT
London, New Bond Street

£5,000 - £6,000

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Attributed to Giacomo Raffaelli (Italian, 1753-1836): A rare micromosaic circular plaque depicting a goldfinch set within a gold and silver gilt mounted tortoiseshell oval snuff box

The panel Roman, circa 1800
The hinged lid inset with a circular panel depicting a songbird perched on a leafy branch in finely inlaid tesserae reserved a cream background, within a narrow millefiori border,
the case with some minor chips, the micromosaic panel, 5.2cm diameter, the box, 3.5cm high, 9cm wide, 6.5cm deep

Footnotes

The present lot is of a quality associated with the work of Giacomo Raffaelli, an artist and craftsman who is often credited with developing the micromosaic technique utilising the tiny square or rectangular tesserae characteristic of this early stage of the art form.

The depiction of a solitary songbird on a branch is perhaps one of the earliest motifs used in micromosaics, most probably inspired by 17th century pietre dure plaques produced at the Opificio in Florence. The naturalism of the European Goldfinch in this lot is achieved through the use of the tiny tesserae, sometimes no larger than a pin head and the theme of a solitary bird on a branch was one of the first motifs which Raffaelli used in his micromosaics.

For a similar comparable box and a further associated circular plaque depicting a goldfinch defending its nest from a snake, see Jeanette Hanisee Gabriel's Micromosaics, Private collections, Brian McCarthy, 2016, pl. 125, p. 164, and pl. 74, p. 121.

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