Antique opening bracelet in 14K (575) gold, decorated with a polychrome micromosaic representing the chariot of Apollo, the back decorated with a frieze of geometric motifs in granulation, the hinge with pin. Italian work from the second half of the 19th century. Length : 6.9 - Width : 3cm approx. Gross weight: 53.25 g (micromosaic missing, small ball missing, small dent) It seems that the discovery of the parietal mosaic representing Pliny's Doves in Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli in 1737 was the starting point for mosaicists' research into micromosaics. In 1731, Alessio Mattioli was the first to propose a range of coloured and matt glasses, very different from the translucent glasses used in Venice. His work met with great success, and he was commissioned to produce tesserae for the Vatican workshop between 1730 and 1750. From then on, masters vied with each other to develop the "mosaico in piccolo", a miniature mosaic that was easy to transport. A micromosaic is an image created using hundreds of glass tesserae made from small pieces cut from coloured glass rods, known as "smalti filatti". These tesserae are placed against each other to form patterns on a mortar and then polished to give them a shine. Jeanette Hanesee Gabriel, The Gilbert Collection, Micromosaics, Trieste 20000, p. 27 ff. Roberto Grieco, Micromosaici romani, Roma 2008