Lot 248: A 19th century Roman gilt bronze, enamelled and micromosaic box by Cesare Roccheggiani depicting the Forum

of oval form, the top inlaid with a scene of the Forum, within a beaded border, the sides enamelled with scrolling foliage, on four small bun feet, the inside of the lid with a label inscribed C. ROCCHEGGIANI , 6cm wide

The Vatican micromosaic workshop was originally founded in the late 16th century to provide the mosaics to decorate the basilica of Saint Peters; but continued to produce micromosaics for the open market for centuries after. By the 19th century the Vatican workshop was producing works of such quality that it had virtually monopolised the market. Roccheggiani was employed at the Vatican from 1856 to 1864, but also set up his own workshop which is recorded firstly at 125 Via Babuino and then, by 1874, at 14 & 15 Via Condotti. Here he mostly produced small decorative pieces for the tourist market, such as the present lot. However, his remarkable skill is particularly apparent in the exceptionally large works that he was commissioned to produce, such as the 102.5cm x 185.2cm panel sold at Christies, London, 29 April 2010, lot 268 for £481,000.

J. Gabriel, The Gilbert Collection Micromosaics, London, 2000, (p. 289).