Lot 48
48
AN ITALIAN MICROMOSAIC PLAQUE
THE PROPERTY OF A EUROPEAN PRIVATE COLLECTOR (LOTS 48 AND 49)
AN ITALIAN MICROMOSAIC PLAQUE

BY A MAZZESI (? - DOC.1797), ROME, CIRCA 1797, SIGNED ON THE REVERSE 'MAZZESI FECIT 1797'

Details
AN ITALIAN MICROMOSAIC PLAQUE
BY A MAZZESI (? - DOC.1797), ROME, CIRCA 1797, SIGNED ON THE REVERSE 'MAZZESI FECIT 1797'
rectangular plaque depicting a family of Philander opossum, on an iron support and in a gilt-wood frame
7¾ in. (200 mm.) wide
8¼ in. (260 mm.) wide with frame
Glued to the reverse of the support there is a handwritten paper written in French, which reads 'Philandre de Surinam. Animal d'une espèce voisine à celles du Sarigue, de la Marmose, du Cayopollin, du Phalanger et du meme climat. Il produis cinq ou six petits qui ont un grognement assez semblade à celui d'un cochon de lait. Ces petits montent sur le dos de leur mère, et s'y tienent en accrochant leur queue à la siene; dans cette situation elle les porte et transporte avec tante de sureté, que de légèreté.
Voyez Encyclop. Metod. 1st. Nat. de quadrup.'

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Lot Essay


Immediately after their birth, newborn opossums travel to their mother's pouch, where they will begin nursing. Opossum infants will continue to live in their mother's pouch for about two months after their birth. As the opossums grow and their senses develop, they will begin to venture outside the pouch for short periods. Eventually the young become too large to stay in the pouch and will spend their time instead on their mother's back, using their tails and opposable thumbs to grasp her tail and fur while she travels. Young opossums typically spend about three months with their mothers before they are fully weaned and independent.

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