Faint echoes of Byzantium, lasting traces of the 18th Century Grand Tour: micromosaics are surviving whispers of ancient times and miniature reminders of faraway places. Few artisans remain in the world that have reached the level of nuanced mastery required to create these diminutive marvels; they are a singular and exceedingly rare medium that gives beautiful shape to meaningful expression.
A seemingly chaotic arrangement of glass tesserae is organized into a nuanced medley of shapes and color that, at arm’s length, emerges as an enchanting subject bearing all the depth, tonality, volume, and form that you might otherwise find in a painting, fresco, or full-sized mosaic from Ancient Rome. Are they hyper-realistic? No. They are naturalistic. Here, ultra precise, literal renderings of reality are unimportant. Rather, the aim is to capture the essence of reality’s nature.
Thankfully, while the creation of micromosaics might well be considered a critically endangered craft, our Artisan Partner, Roberta Giannoccaro, has kept this precious artistic tradition alive, and has rediscovered (and mastered!) what were previously extinct techniques in the process.
Bisanzio Pendant
Micromosaico Signet
Quadrilobo Pendant
How it’s made
We worked with Roberta and Master Goldsmith, Paolo Penko, to develop a selection of exclusive L’Arte Nascosta Micromosaic Jewelry designs that can be crafted in 18k Gold, 9k Gold, or Sterling Silver, and can be embellished further with precious stones and custom engravings.
Roberta giannoccaro
About
Every micromosaic that emerges from Roberta’s studio - whether an elaborate decorative plaque, a pendant, or even a small signet ring - is a testament to her innate artistic ability, and her exacting technical standards. For Roberta, it is not sufficient that her micromosaics merely resemble the subject that her patron had in mind; rather, she aims to capture and convey its essence, regardless of how elusive it might be.
Micromosaics were something of a family tradition in Roberta’s home growing up, as her father was a master in his own right. Formally, she trained as a graphic designer at Florence’s Accademia delle Belle Arti, but it was under the tutelage of her father that she learned the endangered, and nuanced craft of composing micromosaics of smalto mosaic glass: a journey that led hear to rediscover and master techniques that not even her father managed to perfect. Among these was the filatura color mixing technique, and the inclusion of pietra dura gemstones in her micromosaic compositions.
Her mastery of the filatura technique enriches her work, allowing her to create virtually any color imaginable, resulting in a composition that displays all the depth, shading and volume that one might sooner expect in a full-sized painting rather than in a miniature mosaic.
Over the course of her career, Roberta Giannoccaro has emerged as a respected authority in her field that places her ample experience and profound understanding of her craft at the complete disposal of her patrons so that their micromosaic commissions might mature as lasting mementos as rich in beauty and meaning as the ancient references that inspired them.
