Archaeological-Revival Gold and Micromosaic 'Medusa' Brooch, Castellani, Mosaic Possibly by Luigi Podio

The tesserae depicting the head of Medusa against a cream ground, within a gold frame with ropetwist details, signed twice with interlaced C's; before 1888. With unsigned box.

In excellent condition particularly given the age of the piece, with some minor discoloration and scratching to the gold on the reverse. Very well-made and displaying exceptional craftsmanship. Signed twice on the reverse with interlaced C's for Castellani. Gross weight approximately 24 dwts, diameter approximately 2 inches.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Castellani and Italian Archaeological Jewelry, The Bard Graduate Center, New York, November 2004-February 2005, front cover for a brooch of similar design, checklist no. 34

The technique of micromosaic was an 18th century development of an art that from Greek and Roman times had been used to decorate the floors and walls of villas, palaces and early Christian churches. These early mosaics were made of pieces of stone cut in the shape of cubes called tesserae. Between the 4th and 6th century AD mosaics made of small cubes of multicolored glass were used to decorate Christian churches. By the 11th century, Ravenna had become the center of mosaic production, soon joined in this status by the glass mosaic workshop of St. Mark Basilica in Venice.

The mosaic piccolo or micromosaic technique started to develop in the Vatican Mosaic Workshop in the late 18th century. The size of the smalti, the multicolored tesserae used to create these mosaics was minute; in the best examples up to 5,000 were used per square inch. The name smalti comes from the Italian word for enamel, the material composing the micromosaic tesserae produced at the Vatican Workshop. Smalti were first formed into cakes cut out of which chips were broken off, molten in a furnace and then pulled with tongs to produce filaments known as filati. The multicolored tesserae were then used by the mosaic artists much like a painter would use a paint brush.

In the early 19th century the micromosaics depicted subjects such as flowers, animals, or Roman landscapes. As the century progressed, however, inspiration was waning and technique faltering. This is when Castellani started to turn his attention to the art form, encouraged by Michaelangelo Caetani Duke of Sermoneta and by the Russian Count Vassili Dimitriecitch Olsoufieff, an ancient art scholar. Castellani promoted a return to technical quality and a change in subject matter. Castellani’s micromosaics were made under the guidance of Luigi Podio who presided over the mosaic workshop between 1851 and 1888 and guaranteed a consistent quality of production. It is generally accepted that the Castellanis played an important part in the process of raising the level of the art of the mosaic above the banality and coarseness of contemporary production.