An Italian Micromosaic Plaque of the Doves of Pliny, Mid 19th Century, Rome

bearing the signature G. Rinaldi f. Roma on the lower left hand outer border, within giltwood frame carved with acanthus and beaded borders.

Some very small areas of restoration, expertly done and barely visible to the naked eye: including small patch above the wing of far left dove; small square in rim of bowl below the dove second from left; small section of wing and back of the drinking dove; area on top of wing of far right dove also restored and with a small chip. Some possible restorations or refreshed areas in black ground. With iron backing.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

RELATED LITERATURE

Alvar Gonzalez-Palacios,The Art of Mosaics: Selections from the Gilbert Collection (exh.cat.), Los Angeles Country Museum of Art, 1977

The composition of the present finely executed mosaic derives from the celebrated Hadrian's Villa marble mosaic dating from the 2nd century BC, rediscovered in 1737 and now in  the  Capitoline Museum, Rome.  The Roman author and historian Pliny the Elder, in his Historia Naturalis described the panel as: "A dove drinking, and darkening the water with the shadow of her head, on the lip of the vessel are other doves pluming themselves." This mosaic is now commonly known as The Doves of Pliny and has been described by Alvar Gonzalez-Palacios as "perhaps the most loved mosaic of antiquity" (Gonzalez-Palacios, op.cit., p. 57).  A circular panel of the same subject is in the Gilbert Collection, see J. H. Gabriel, The Gilbert Collection. Miscromosaics, London, 2000, pp. 32-33, fig. 5)

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the much celebrated Doves of Pliny  was frequently repeated by mosaicists. The scene was replicated by makers of shell cameos and glass micromosaics for jewelry, box lids and plaques.