110 Antique & Vintage Italian Micro Mosaic Pill Boxes Lot 1880s–1970s Grand Tour For Sale

A rare chance to acquire an entire collection: 110 hand-set Italian micro mosaic boxes, spanning nearly a century of the craft.Micro mosaic began in 18th-century Rome. Artisans cut tiny threads of colored glass, called tesserae, and set them one by one into miniature pictures. In the 1800s, wealthy travelers on the Grand Tour carried these jewel-like boxes home as treasured souvenirs of Italy. Generations later, Italian workshops kept the tradition alive for a new wave of travelers in the 1950s through 1970s. Those makers produced the bright floral boxes that collectors love today.This collection holds both chapters. The oldest pieces date to the late 1800s, and the newest to the 1970s. Every box was set by hand, so no two are alike: different shapes, sizes, palettes and patterns of roses, daisies and forget-me-nots on cobalt, turquoise, emerald, red and yellow grounds. They come in gilt-brass and silver-toned cases with hinged lids.Condition: All 110 boxes open and close properly. One box is missing a single tessera (pictured). Boxes show age-appropriate patina and wear consistent with their age.Includes: Rounds, ovals, squares, rectangles and shaped boxes, from tiny pill size (about 2 x 1.5cm) up to larger trinket boxes.This is ideal for a collector, a dealer, a shop owner or a designer. It is a museum-worthy display, ready to be kept, gifted or passed down.Ships fully insured with signature confirmation.

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