A micromosaic rectangular plaque set on copper representing an unusual version of the Pliny's Doves, mounted with the original gilt copper frame on a "old red" marble paperweight and pen holder.
Rome, 2nd quarter of the 19th century circa 1820
Dimension approx. 2" x 2 7/8" (cm 5 x 7) plaque, 3 5/8" x 6 1/2" (cm 9 x 17) entire piece.
Excellent condition commensurate with age.

These doves, known as the Capitoline Doves or Doves of Pliny, appear frequently as the subject of micromosaics. The image comes from a Roman floor mosaic discovered in 1737 at Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli, which in turn is believed to be a copy of a lost ancient Greek mosaic at Pergamon. The original is described by Pliny the Elder in his Natural History, completed in 77AD. This unusual and rare version in micromosaic of the Pliny's doves is closer to the original roman mosaic because shows the figure the holds the handle on the bowl. Only very few micromosaic has it, more or less 1%.