Featured Help on Frame ID and value

can anyone tell me anything about my frame? the pieces of colored material seem to be glass. I'd like to know a cleaning technique also. Value? Thanks

frame by Ruth Ann posted Nov 13, 2018 at 3:04 PM

frame by Ruth Ann posted Nov 13, 2018 at 3:03 PM

frame by Ruth Ann posted Nov 13, 2018 at 3:02 PM

frame by Ruth Ann posted Nov 13, 2018 at 3:00 PM

 

Very very nice Italian micro mosaic. Set in brass, and I think early 20th C. Nothing more than a soft brush please, or a Qtip with a little bit of something like Windex. I could see that making a couple of hundred, but I'd not sell it. Originally made to have a pair of sweetheart photos, but cats work.

 

Thanks, the cats came with!!!

 

That is a darling little frame!

 

The individual pieces that make up a mosaic are called tesserae (1 is a tessera). Looks in excellent condition. Agree, Italian, early 20th.

 

THAT is Adorable/Beautiful!!!!! Just LOVE it!!!! NOW to remember..... 'Italian Micro Mosaic'!!!!

 

Very sweet frame, Ruth Ann, and perfect for your cute furry friends.
I agree with obb and Bronwen on provenance and date, but technically speaking this would be considered mosaic rather than micro mosaic.
In the latter you can hardly discern the individual pieces of glass, and it is of such quality and value that the frame would probably have been gold. Nowadays many people confuse the two, and you will see similar items to your frame listed as micro mosaic.

Here is a good explanation of the different Italian inlay techniques:
https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/pietra-dura-micromosaic-mosaic-jewelry-149527
Photos from the link to show the difference, left pietra dura (stone inlay), right micro mosaic, and the bottom one is mosaic:

They also made jewellery in that style. My very first bracelet as a toddler was Italian 'micro mosaic' (mosaic). I guess that is when I caught the bling bug.
I still have some 19th century pieces that used to be my great-grandmother's, also mosaic rather than micro mosaic.

 

SO Beautiful !!! ... Joy.

 

Don't mean to rain on the cuteness (Very ), but your kitties should be the other way round - else the luck will run out of the horseshoes.

 

This is the old way, a symbol of the Mother Goddess. Im times past, because horseshoes had the shape of a uterus, they were seen as symbol of creation and the Goddess. From that symbolism they evolved into a lucky symbol.
So the frame is the right way up (or down), the position of the clover also confirms that.

 

Thank all of you for your help! If they were actually horseshoes you would be right about the luck! Now if you really don't want to lose your luck, never set your cowboy hat brim side down !!! ALWAYS crown down, that way your luck won't spill out!

 

Very nice frames. The cats look cute in there but since they came with the frames I assume they are not your cats. If you are selling the frames you might want to keep the cats in there. They would grab some attention. If keeping the frames, put something else in there.