Cesare Roccheggiani is presumably the member of the family of mosaicists whose name is recorded in the lid of the case since he is the only member with the initial ‘C’. The only published document referring to Cesare is dated 1859, when he is mentioned in a bill of payment in the archives of the Vatican Mosaic Factory at St Peter’s. He was probably related to Lorenzo and Nicola Roccheggiani, mosaicists of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, and Antonio Roccheggiani, who gained medals at the London exhibition of 1851 and the Paris exhibition of 1855. Reference: The British Museum
The Vatican micromosaic workshop was originally founded in the late 16th century to provide the mosaics to decorate the basilica of Saint Peters; but continued to produce micromosaics for the open market for centuries after. By the 19th century the Vatican workshop was producing works of such quality that it had virtually monopolised the market. Roccheggiani was employed at the Vatican from 1856 to 1864, but also set up his own workshop which is recorded firstly at 125 Via Babuino and then, by 1874, at 14 & 15 Via Condotti. Here he mostly produced small decorative pieces for the tourist market, such as the present lot. However, his remarkable skill is particularly apparent in the exceptionally large works that he was commissioned to produce, such as the 102.5cm x 185.2cm panel sold at Christies, London, 29 April 2010, lot 268 for £481,000. Reference: Bonham’s
A good Italian gilt metal, bronze, lapis lazuli and micromosaic three tier étagère jewelry case
Cesare Roccheggiani (fl. second half 19th century)
third quarter 19th century
The hinged top fitted with a panel centered by a fountain with a view of the Colosseum to the left and St. Peter’s square to the right, the interior rim incised C. Roccheggiani Roma, the second tier with a view of the Colosseum, the bottom tier with a view of the Roman Forum, each panel within a malachite band, all raised on cast knopped supports.
overall height 37 3/4in (96cm); width 16 1/4in (41cm); depth 11 1/4in (28.5cm); dimensions of top plaque 14 x 8 3/8in (35.5 x 21cm); dimensions of two other tiers 15 x 10in (38 x 25.5cm)
For a similar example see Jeanette Hanisee Gabriel, Micromosaics: The Gilbert Collection, Philip Wilson: New York, p. 118.
In all likelihood, this lot, like the above mentioned example, was once surmounted by an oval mirror flanked by candle cups.
Cesare Roccheggiani was a master mosaicist who worked at the Vatican Mosaic Workshop from 1856-1864 and later had two workshops of his own in Rome.
Sold for US$ 40,000 (£ 28,444) inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2013
AN ITALIAN GILT METAL AND MICROMOSAIC INLAID BOX,
RETAILED BY C. ROCCHEGGIANI, LATE 19TH/20TH CENTURY,
with silk tufted lining
5½in. (14cm.) long
Sold for USD 2,375 at Christie’s in 2014
Italian Gilt and Enameled Metal Micromosaic Trinket Box
Retailed by C. Roccheggiani, Rome
Of octagonal form, with a hinged cover depicting a temple and a fountain, the sides decorated with a meandering grapevine, silk lined interior, on ball feet. Height 1 7/8 inches.
Estimate: $800 – $1,200
Sold for $1,062 (includes buyer’s premium) at Doyle New York in 2012
Italian micro mosaic gilt metal miniature jewelry box, by Cesare Roccheggiani (fl. second half 19th c.), the lid with the inlaid scene depicting Vatican and St. Peter’s Square, chamfered onyx border, the hinged lid opening to pale green silk lined interior, with gold printed with the Italian coat of arms, C. Roccheggiani, Roma, the shallow case accented by champleve enamel inlay, rising on four ball form feet, some scratches to gilt at lid, box sits slightly askew, 1.75″h, 2.75″w, 2.25″d, 0.75lbs **Provenance: The private collections of a prominent Amarillo Physician**
Sold For: $550 at Austin Auction Gallery in 2017
Late 19th century Italian miniature jewel box. Gilt metal, enamel, glass micromosaic.
Medium: Gilt metal, enamel, glass micromosaic marked C Roccheggiani, Roma in gold on satin
Dimensions:Height: 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
ITALIAN MICROMOSAIC AND ENAMEL PATCH BOX.
Round with hinged lid depicting panoramic view of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, and on the bottom silvered landscape with bridge on black enameled ground; made by Cesare Roccheggiani, a master mosaicist active in the Vatican Mosaic Workshop, 1856-1864. Height 1 1/4 in; diameter 2 in. Property from the Estate of Christian B. Peper.
Sold For: $1,800 at Ivey-Selkirk Auctioneers in 2012
This is a C. Roccheggianni Micro Mosaic Casket Jewelry Box circa 1860. It’s a rare signed micromosaic piece made the by Vatican Mosaic Workshop artist, Cesare Roccheggiani. Cesare Roccheggiani’s works date between 1856-64 at the Vatican workshops, or ‘Manufattura Vaticana’, hence the ‘MV’ on his works of that period. His works are among those on display in the Victoria & Albert Museum in London as part of the collection of Sir Gilbert. “Micromosaics: The Gilbert Collection”, a book . The subject is St. Peter’s,the Piazza, Bernini’s columns,fountains,ancient Egyptian obleisk, and several Vatican buildings. The micromosaic rectangular plaque is mounted in a traditional Italian enameled casket of the period.
Sold For: $800 at Pembrooke Auctions in 2011
