Victorian Florentine mosaic gold earrings

A pair of long gold and Pietra Dura earrings. Florence, 19th century. Pietra Dura (hardstone) refers to a mosaic technique made in Florence with pieces of hard stone fitted together. The Pietra Dura technique is descendant of the Roman opus sec tile mosaic style, it blossomed during the Renaissance and revived in the 19th century when was also used in jewelry. 

Paio di antichi orecchini in oro giallo con mosaico floreale. Firenze, seconda metà del XIX secolo. Il mosaico detto Pietra dura, dalla tecnica Romana opus sectile, e’ composto appunto da pietre dure, quali marmi, agate, ardesie. Fiori’ durante il Rinascimento ed ebbe un grande ritorno nel XIX secolo.