An Italian micromosaic plaque by the Simonetti dynasty, Vatican workshops, Rome second half 19th century

with a fruit-filled glass bowl flanked by a gekko centred by a tazza decorated with two fish, with dragon handles on an entwined dolphin plinth issuing a flower-filled baluster vase in a later ebonised and parcel-gilt-frame; the reverse of the frame with the partial label of Rev. Fabbrica di S. Pietro, in Vaticano-Studio del Mosaico, the reverse of the frame with a red wax seal of the Papal States

Purchased by the present owner from the Collection of Carl de Santis, Sotheby's, New York, 4th November 2011, lot 212.

In overall very good condition. Very attractive detail to the micromosaic.There is some mild discolouration to the slate ground which would benefit from a repolish according to taste. Some very minor chips to the frame which are hardly noticeable.
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NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Comparative Literature:
Jeanette Hanisee Gabriel, The Gilbert Collection, Micromosaics, London, 2000, p.99, no. 43, p.156, no. 89 and p. 159, no. 91.

This exquisite plaque with an exhuberant flower-filled vase follows the tradition of Northern European Baroque flower paintings which were available as models throughout the late 19th century. It is rare to find floral mosaics of this large size and complexity of execution. There are only six such mosaics in the Gilbert Collection, see Gabriel  op. cit., p. 156 for two floral still lives with very similarly depicted fruit, flowers and fish. The author also states, op. cit., `Both have been copied from paintings or prints, and succeed remarkably in capturing the rich colour and vitality of Northern European floral still lifes. ...the complexity of rendering realistically a large still life with diverse types of flowers may account for the relative rarity of large mosaic flower pictures.'