Featured Miniature Painting - How old?

I bought this miniature painting (the painting itself is only 7.8 x 4,6 cm) and first thought It was one of the usual pieces from around 1900, but the longer I look at it the more I think it could actually be much older? The painting style reminds me of 17th-18th century. The frame is gilt bronze, and there is some writing on it, that makes no sense to me. The painting is covered by glass. What do you think about this? Thank you very much in advance!
Mat

 

It's nice, but I think 1900 is about as far back as it would go.

 

Swiss, German, Austrian?

 

I can't make any sense of those letters either!
They look like the Western alphabet, but... csso mcccs? Huh?
I can't really tell much from the painting...
Agreeing with Scout about likely landscape. Of course, an early style can be nicely imitated later.
Looks to be an original framing, yes? If so, that's probably our best bet for dating it, and I don't know much about frames/glass/bronze/gilt. MOS, was that your main reason for saying 1990-ish?

 

I thought *maybe* roman numerals? but no "s"

 

I went there too, Scoutster!

 

I like the painting, But there's something to the style that doesn't say 18thC to me. Looks like the frame is likely original to it, and that's post industrial revolution. I'm having a difficult time putting a finger on it. I do suspect a tourist view - a collection of stereotypical imagery: water cascading down mountains, rustic chalet, peasants in local costume. I find that very central tree rather odd; it so divides the picture in two.

 

Thanks, MOS! I follow you!

 

I wonder if this was a brooch at one point ?

 

Johnny, what clues you to that question, please?

 

The little bumps on either end .

 

Oh, wowwwwwwwwwwwwww... I see that now!!!!

 

Lovely piece! Most curious about the initials.

 

Any idea what this is painted on? Otherwise my gut reaction is the same as moreotherstuff's...... 1900 or later.

 

Good morning and thank you all for your comments! I do not know where to begin, but first, I agree that it is a generic scene, not a scenery existing somewhere in nature.
The painting is quite nice, and many details do not show very well in the photos. Also the colours are not so dark in reality, but I couldn't capture that in the pictures. The only thing that is not so well done is indeed the location of the tree in the middle!
I removed the back of it and I am not sure what to think about what I found. First the back is made of thick cardboard.
The painting itself is not removable from the glass cover, and what can be seen on the inside is a piece of fabric that to my eyes looks like silk (?). I tend to think that the painting is actually done on the glass, and likely in oil, as I can see the characteristic crackles with a magnifying glass. Maybe the silk was rather added as a protective backing? On one place a bit of the painting has come off, and you can see that in the detail picture I post. The dark part there is the glass itself, then there is a white layer of paint visible, and on top of it the fabric.
I do not think this has ever been a brooch, as there has not broken off something of the two pins. I rather believe it was attached to a kind of wooden frame that has been lost.
Has anyone seen something comparable?
Many thanks again, Mat

P.S:
Sorry for the bad detail pictures, I was in a hurry and made them with my mobile phone...

 

Reverse painting on glass was a mid 19th C fashion, and I have a few examples but all full size pictures. This is the first miniature example I have seen. I should have spotted the technique earlier.

 

Hi,
When I start looked at it I thought it said Casa Mcees.
greg

 

Thank you afantiques, that sounds convincing! And the style would also fit in that period, I think. Ok, 17th/18th c seems to have been rather wishful thinking!. As to the inscription, maybe Casa Mcees, who knows...

 

Much nicer than your typical reverse painting on glass. Took some practice to paint that thing.

 

There are A lot of 1960s / 70s and 80s italian miniature paintings of similar style around. Especially ones with oval frames.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/258563874/ornate-brass-framed-art-print-landscape?ref=market

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Ita...pe-Scene-Signed-Oval-Gilt-Frame-/172202629588

http://www.ebay.com/itm/antique-original-oval-oil-painting-in-original-frame-13-By-15-/282041563820