Mid-19th Century Italian Grand Tour Micromosaic Pendant

This micromosaic came to me as a poorly-modified pendant. Originally made as a brooch to indicate a stop of a traveler on the Grand Tour of Europe in the early- to mid-1850s, this piece had had its pin components torn and ground roughly from its back, with a link of pot-metal chain glued to the back to allow it to be worn as a pendant. Its surround is delicately twisted Sterling silver wire braids, which were easy to augment.

The setting deserved better treatment, so I crafted a tall bezel of 22K yellow gold, then wrapped that in hand-milled, hand-alloyed 18K yellow gold wire, and added 18K yellow gold beads at compass points. It has a Sterling silver back, with a sturdy 14K yellow gold open-bottom bail, so you can slide ribbon, or leather, or a chain with a larger sized clasp beneath its springy gold.

It was so much fun to work with this piece like a gem - and to try to honor the artisanship that went into its creation so very long ago. I’m honored to have been part of its life.

Pendant measures 1 1/8” and is sold with slim black ribbon.