When we think of Mosaic jewelry we think of basically three types: Mosaic, Micromosaic and Pietra Dura. They are all similar yet different. Let's explore the similarities and the differences.
1. Mosaics=A piece of jewelry with countless small pieces of multicolored glass tiles or tesserae which are inlaid flush to create a beautiful design.
2. Micromosaic=Similar to mosaic but the difference is the glass tiles or tessarae are very, very small,using thousands of the tiny tiles which are painstakingly hand assembled and placed into a pattern,with a final step of waxing and polishing, and the finished product is much smoother or finer in appearance than the regular mosaic, and it almost appears as a fluid picture with no spaces visible.
Examples can be found here:The Three Graces
3. Pietra Dura=(Italian) Literally, hard stone. The term (although a singular form) refers to the various hardstones (e.g. chalcedony, agate, jasper, lapis lazuli) used in flat slices in the type of mosaic produced in the Florence during the Renaissance and continuing until today, and is sometimes applied to an example of the work. Generally the background is a darker color to offset the object being depicted.
Date(s): January 1, 2007. Album by Jewelry Ring. 1 - 29 of 29 Total. 3193 Visits.
11 Victorian pietra dura pin. Unique pietra dura bar pin, a thin layer of blue lapis lazuli is laid over black marble and then inlaid with turquoise and coral to form the orange flower and leaves design.
14 This is a mid 1800's solid gold (tests apx. 12K quality) and pearl mosaic "jardin" (French for garden) brooch. It features a miniature mosaic floral garden under glass crystal with beveled edge, of turquoise, coral and pearl. The pearl bezel is strung on wire with tubular gold stations and shield shaped top. Measures 1-1/2" x 1-1/4" x 3/8" thick. There is a thin internal bezel under which the glass is seated made of gilt brass for strength and rigidity.
Compliments of Carolyn & Ed Sunday
15 Italian mosaic demi. Demi consisting of a brooch/pendant and clipback earrings in wire filigree settings. Brooch is marked "FAP Made in Italy" on the back.
23 Micromosaic of a spaniel and duck C. 1820-1830's A superb micromosaic of a water spaniel flushing a duck from the reeds. Set in a 18K gold frame, the pin is 2 1/2" by 2" (the black glass and mosaic section is 2" x 1 3/4". The tiles are curved in order to create the fluid lines in the dog's fur and the reeds.
24 Floral micromosaic and millefiori brooch in blue glass, 1850's? Millefiori (literally, 'a thousand flowers') is the method in which different colored glasses were fused together to create a single cane with the same pattern throughout. The canes or threads of glass were arranged vertically, side by side, in the desired pattern, heated until they fused, then pressed together to remove air from between the threads. The resulting cane was pulled to the required thinness and sliced to produce slivers of uniform design.
