Mosaic marked Italy?

hi, is this mosaic? stamped italy.. is this a banjo?
tia

 

Tricia, it's what's referred to as a mirco mosaic, a traditional jewelry medium in Italy. More likely a mandolin which is an Italian instrument. (The banjo is not.)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micromosaic

Debora

 

I agree, a mandolin. It isn't strictly micro mosaic, that uses minute tesserae, making pictures that you can hardly tell aren't painted. Mosaic: 1970s ish from the back. These were first made as Grand Tour souvenirs by nuns in Florence supposedly.

 

So few people make that distinction these days! I'm so glad you did.

 

Innocent questions... If it's not micro-mosaic, how would you describe it then? And wouldn't you consider those elements tesserae?

Debora

 

If I was selling it on eBay, I'd absolutely call it micro mosaic -- because everyone does. And yes, the pieces are tessarae, but they're quite large compared to a true micro mosaic.

 

That's what I thought... Even though much less finely made than antique ones, modern micro-mosaics would still be described as such. There's no other term to describe them.

Debora

 

They used to be called just plain old mosaics. Which is what I still call them.

But I don't have to sell anything.

 

Those are stunning!

 

It is not a mandolin, which has a more pear shaped body.


Your brooch looks like a banjo, with a round, flat body.
There is a hybrid form called banjolin or mandolin banjo. Italians used both the banjo and the banjolin.
Back of a banjolin, round and flat like a banjo, but wood like a mandolin:

http://www.greatvintageitems.com/product/mandolin-banjo-banjolin-1920-1930-possibly-sicilian-made/

 

Good point on the body shape: mind you, jewellers are as bad at music as they are botany!

Just for clarity. Not saying they aren't tesserae, they are, whether it's a pavement or an earring.It's the size I mean - the micro mosaic ones are literally that. Jivvy is spot on with some lovely examples. Selling, they get called micro mosaic, which is as badly used a term as Mary Gregory. Or Murano. Or Bristol.

 

Italian mosaic pin, brooch.