Antique micromosaic paperweight

Description:

Antique micromosaic paperweight representing Piazza San Pietro (Vatican) with a malachite stone frame. On a Belgian black marble base with a mixtilinear profile.  A typicall Grand Tour souvenir. Some very little chippings on the edge.

The mosaic paperweight was introduced during the first half of the 19th century, a period in which the micromosaic experienced its best season. The first paperweights were rectangular on bronze or marble supports.
During the second half of the 19th century, the paperweight assumed a mixtilinear profile. The mosaic was produced directly in the marble and had a lateral groove ( like this one ) that made it easy to grasp by hand. Mostly produced in Belgian black marble. The production of this object ( and of the micromosaic in general ) ended at the beginning of the 20th century.