THE BOX BY GIACOMO SIRLETTI (1755-1837), MARKED WITH THE ROME STANDARD MARK FOR SILVER 1815-1870, THE MICROMOSAIC PLAQUE ROME, CIRCA 1815/1820

Giacomo Sirletti was born in Rome in 1755. He initially trained and worked as a gem-engraver and gained his license in 1803. He subsequently opened a shop at via S. Silvestro o Convertite no. 3 in 1811 and he entered two marks as a silversmith in the same year. He worked up until his death in 1837 (see A. Bulgari Calissoni, Maestri Argentieri, Gemmari e Orafi di Roma, Rome, 1987, p. 396). A further example of his work is in the Victoria and Albert Museum (inv. no. 938:1, 2-1882). Another box with a micromosaic depicting two butterflies fluttering above a plant by Sirletti was sold Christie's, London, 16 November 2010, lot 480.