By Karina Frost


If you ever felt that that in your life everything is dull and boring, that is what it feels like to have no adornments in the world. Jewelries have become an important part of the life of men and women. And for jewel artisans, making jewelries is not just a job but an art that they have to perfect. So much detail is put into it that craftsmen are usually applauded for their work.

From seashells and beads, as the time passed by, jewelries have also changed in for and nature. And in the middle of the evolution of creating jewelries, there is one particular kind that grabs attention especially for art experts. That is the micro mosaic jewelry.

Very famous during the Victorian era in the 19th century, this craft was made famous by the Romans in Italy when the aristocratic Grand Tour was also famous. When rich families visit the different parts of Europe, Italy became the usual topic. And why not, it boasts of natural sceneries that are both epic and beautiful. Aside from that Rome was a rising industrial country because of its glass products. This is when the era of micromosaic jewelry began.

Based on the concept of Mosaic, the micro mosaic art is a little bit distinct from the original one because of the particles or tiles that are used in the process of making the piece. The small tiles that are used in making the design is a type of glass that is calle the tesserae. Customized jewelry were the fad during the 19th century. In this case, the aristocrats would need to pay more.

Pendants, earrings and brooches are the most common pieces made from this kind of art. The fine pieces of varied colored tesserae are cemented on a flat surface usually metal or stone. Some people even use glass as the blank canvas. After cementing and drying the design, it is then framed and the piece is finished.

The most amazing thing about it is that you would need to use a microscope to determine if it is micromosaic or if it is hand painted. The usual deduction of other people is that it is painted when in fact it is not. The pieces being sold served as remembrances that they have visited this particular place. So, before the post cards and the printed shirts were invented, they had jewelry.

Other styles of art that is still considered as micro mosaic are the Pietra Dura and the Venetian Mosaic. Pietra Dura is made by forming thin slices of genuine stone in to the design of your choice against a flat surface, preferably a dark stone. This kind of craft is also called the Florentine.

In determining the value of a micromosaic piece you need to look at the state of the jewelry, if it is good or not. The precision of the work should always be taken into consideration also and the most important factor is the size of the tesserae particle. It is said that the more minute sizes are used, the more valuable it is, thus, the more it is worth.

You can never put a price on art. Micromosaic jewelries are considered true artworks because of the work and the attention put in to it. It is no wonder why a lot of people really appreciate this kind of art and are willing to pay for it.




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