brooch;
mosaic
- Museum number
- 1978,1002.511
- Description
-
Gold brooch set with a glass micromosaic panel of the 'Fox and Grapes' from Aesop's Fables, inlaid into a black glass background.
- Production date
- 1830-1850
- Dimensions
-
Width: 5.60 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- Text from catalogue of the Hull Grundy Gift (Gere et al 1984) no 934:
This mosaic is notable for the competent shading and texture of the fox's fur. A plaque with a fox devouring a pheasant in the Hermitage Museum is attributed to Raffaelli (see Efimova 1968, no.56), but the style seems closer to the work of Antonio Aguatti, active in Rome during the first half of the nineteenth century and noted for his mosaics of animals. His improvements to the smalti filati included the combination of more than one shade in a single thread, so that a single piece could suggest the texture and movement of hair (see Gonzales Palacios 1977, no.35). (Judy Rudoe)
For Aguatti's handling of animals, see also J. Rudoe 'Mosaico in Piccolo: Craftsmanship and Virtuosity in Miniature Mosaics', in J. Gabriel (ed), 'The Gilbert Collection: Micromosaics', London 2000, pp.27-48.
The fox shown here has secured the grapes which he does not in Aesop, see C. Johns, 'Dogs. History, Myth, Art', British Museum 2008, p. 112.
The Gilbert Collection is now in the Victoria and Albert Museum (Charlotte Gere)
- Location
- On display (G47/dc8)
- Associated titles
-
Associated Title: Æsop's Fables
-
Associated Title: The Fox and the Grapes
- Acquisition date
- 1978-1981
- Acquisition notes
- N Bloom & Son, 40 Albemarle Street, London W1. Original invoice for £495 to Anne Hull Grundy dated 15.3.1973, described as 'Large gold mosaic plaque brooch'. This a a possible match.
- Department
- Britain, Europe and Prehistory
- Registration number
- 1978,1002.511
- Additional IDs
-
Miscellaneous number: HG.511 (masterlist number)
