GOLD MICROMOSAIC 'BULLA' PENDANT, CASTELLANI, CIRCA 1860

In the Roman revival style, designed as a hinged pendant applied with rope work decoration, to a central circular image of a dove, the symbol for The Holy Spirit, inlaid  with white, gold, brown and blue tesserae, the reverse inscribed 'VIVAS IN DEO' meaning: may you live in god, within a wreath, signed to the inside with the monogram of interlaced C's within a cartouche, later fitted case, Wartski.

Cf: Susan Weber Soros and Stefanie Walker, Castellani and Italian Archaeological Jewelry, London, 2004, page 246 for a similar example of dove micromosaic jewels.

Cf: Geoffrey Munn, Castellani & Giuliano Revivalist Jewellers of the Nineteenth Century, London, 1984.

Cf: Sotheby's Catalogue, Important Jewels Antique and Contemporary, London, 22nd July 2008, Lot 203, for an example of a bulla micromosaic pendant by Castellani.

Cf: Amanda Triossi and Daniela Mascetti, 'The Necklace, From Antiquity To The Present', Thames and Hudson, 1997, pages 34-35 for examples of bulla.

Very minor losses to tesserae, traces of dirt to surface. Bulla opens and closes well. Scratches to interior near to maker's mark, possibly where someone has tested it as being gold. Weighing approximately 42.0grams. Tarnished, could benefit from a careful professional clean. In very good condition.
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In Ancient Rome a bulla, worn like a locket, was given to children by their families on the occasion of their birth, it was worn as an amulet to protect against evil spirits.  Bulla could be made of many different materials which was dependent upon the wealth of the owner.   Often they were made of leather, poor families might have one of cotton but the wealthier families would have bullae of gold or silver.  A girl would wear her bulla until the eve of her marriage, when it was removed and kept with other childhood possessions, a boy however would continue to wear his bulla until he became a Roman citizen and then would only be worn on special occasions as a protective talisman.