Gold and Micromosaic Brooch, Castellani, circa 1860

This jewel is a direct pastiche of a Byzantine brooch of gold and cloisonné enamel from the Campana Collection, 8th-9th century A.D., now in the Musée du Louvre in Paris, illustrated in the catalogue Castellani and Italian Archaeological Jewelry, The Bard Graduate Center, p. 165, fig. 6-24.  Two almost identical brooches by Castallani are illustrated by Munn, Castellani and Giuliano, no. 94., and by Weber Soros and  Walker, Castellani and Italian Archaeological Jewelry (ibid) p. 165, fig. 6-25.

The Campana affair was a major influence on the archaeological-revival jewels produced by the Castellani family. The Cavaliere Campana, a colonel in the Civic Guard, had acquired an impressive collection of antiquities. In 1859, when the Cavaliere was accused of maladministration and thrown into prison, the government confiscated his collection. Concerned that the exceptional collection of jewels might leave the country, Alessandro and Augusto Castellani tried to aid their father's friend. They suggested that Campana's debt be paid by displaying the collection and charging an entrance fee. Funds could be augmented by selling copies of the jewels which their firm would manufacture. After their efforts failed, Alessandro Castellani was persuaded to help negotiate the sale of the collection to the French emperor Napoleon III. For their own records, the Castellani made reproductions of all the jewels.