BIRMINGHAM, U.K. – An impressive 19th-century Italian gilt wood table with an inset micromosaic top sold on March 4 at Fellows Auctioneers for more than £60,000, or almost $75,000.
Sold as the final lot of the day, the table commanded much attention at the viewings in the firm’s Jewellery Quarter saleroom as well as online. Six bidders battled it out through presale bidding and on the day. The table had been given an estimate of £25,000-£35,000 by the auction house. Bidding started at £22,500 and it went on to sell for £61,750.
Detail of the inset micromosaic top of an Italian 19th-century gilt wood table, £61,750. Image courtesy of Fellows
Previously held in an extensive private collection, the table was consigned to auction by a local family. Micromosaic art is an extremely detailed form of mosaic with tesserae often made from colored glass, slate, stone such as marble, or enamel. In this case, the panel was made from various colors of marble.
Between the 17th and 19th centuries, micromosaic art became very popular with people embarking on a Grand Tour around Europe. Italy was a very popular destination for tourists on the Grand Tour and this table reflects that. The detailed micromosaic panel depicted nine different locations in Italy, including the Pantheon, the Piazza del Popolo and the Colosseum.
The gilt wood table itself was adorned with carvings. The base’s supports were modeled as griffins with lion paw feet and a carved goose standing on assorted flowers and leaves in the center of the base. Reasons given for the table’s value were its size and good condition. The table top had a diameter of 38in (96.5cm), the table itself had a diameter of 42in (106.5cm), and height of 33in (83.75cm). The majority of surviving micromosaic pieces that come to the market are either small jewelry items or collectibles such as desk weights or small framed panels.
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The current rate of exchange is £1 = $1.20.
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