A MICROMOSAIC BROOCH AND PENDANT, BY CASTELLANI

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Details

A MICROMOSAIC BROOCH AND PENDANT, BY CASTELLANI
The brooch bearing a Greek acrostic inscription reading 'Light' (Phos) and 'Life' (Zoe) interspersed with four circular micromosaic panels, to the ropework gold border, circa 1865, 3.0 cm. wide; the pendant depicting a Hagia Sophia motif of four stylised lilies to the gold ropework surround, circa 1860, 2.6 cm. wide
Pendant with addorsed Cs maker's mark for Castellani, brooch cartouche-shaped addorsed Cs maker's mark for Castellani (2)

Literature

S. Weber Soros, S. Walker, Castellani and Italian Archaeological Jewelry, BGC Yale, New Haven, 2004, pp. 246 & 337

Exhibited

The Castellani and Italian Archaeological Jewelry exhibition, Somerset House, London, 2005, Nos. 10 & 135

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 15% on the buyer's premium

Lot Essay

Originally built by Emperor Constantine I (324-337 AD) and later reconstructed in 532 AD by Emperor Justinian, the Hagia Sofia is one of the most prominent examples of the Byzantine Empire and remains today as Turkey's architectural masterpiece.
Decorated throughout with geometric and floral motif mosaics, their designs were often recreated by Michelangelo Caetani, whose taste for neo-Byzantine designs gave significant influence to Fortunato Pio Castellani's creations.

Cf. S. Weber Soros, S. Walker, Castellani And Italian Archaeological Jewelry, BGC Yale, New Haven, 2004, pp. 139 & 166

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