Micromosaic demi-parure set early 19th century

Micromosaic demi-parure set composed of a gold necklace and earrings. The double-stranded necklace features seven oval medallions, with two smaller ovals on the drop-shaped pendant earrings. The micromosaics are set in blue glass in the medallions, and each micromosaic depicts a monument from ancient Rome.

Micromosaic parure sets appeared with the development of the Grand Tour or extended travels that European aristocracy began to take during the 18th century. Numerous Europeans brought back small, glass micromosaic plates from their travels to Italy, which they then had reset by a jeweler in their respective countries. This type of parure set was very fashionable during the Napoleonic Empire. As such, Napoleon I offered his second wife, Marie-Louise of Austria, a micromosaic parure created by the jeweler, Nitot. This set is currently being conserved at the Louvre museum in Paris.

Goldsmith mark: not clearly distinguishable (L. with a pierced heart)
Mark: tête de coq (rooster head) 1809-1819.

Early 19th century work.