Antique Micromosaic of the Colosseum, Rome, c. 1860

Ave Caesar, morituri te salutant - "Hail to thee, Caesar, the moribund salute thee!" According to tradition, gladiators greeted the Roman ruler with this phrase when they were fighting for their lives in the Colosseum. For centuries, the most famous of all ancient amphitheaters in the heart of Rome was the site of bloody spectacles. Travelers who visited Rome on the Grand Tour in the 19th century were particularly fond of bringing home micromosaics with views of the city as souvenirs. This example, dating from around 1860, shows an oval mosaic of the arena built between 72 and 80 AD under Emperor Vespasian, which was converted into a city fortress for the Frangipani dynasty in the Middle Ages. The view from the south-west side shows the partially ruined state of the monumental arena, which is perhaps precisely why it is so impressive. The artist has succeeded in capturing the atmosphere and lighting conditions in tiny glass tesserae. With astonishing ingenuity and attention to detail, the brooch shows the building, which has become the epitome of Roman power and greatness, but also reminds us of the inevitable transience of all earthly splendor. A simple, modern setting in 14-karat yellow gold holds the ancient mosaic securely in place. This means that the piece of jewelry, which came to us from London, can be worn again without any problems.

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