9ct Italian Pietradura Brooch Circa 1860 locket the foil acts both as

the foil acts both as a reflector and a coloring agent

Age/origin: American

but seasoned collectors know that detailed layers make jewelry look

It is a closed-back piece and extraordinarily comfortable

fashion followed the Queen

9ct Italian Pietradura Brooch Circa 1860 locket the foil acts both asPietra dura translates to "hard stone" in Italian but also refers to the artistic practice of inlaying stone into a hard backing to create pictures. While mosaics are usually immediately identifiable as separate pieces within a design, pietra dura usually requires a closer look. The stone inlay work is so finely crafted, that pietra dura often looks like a painting. This quality in craftsmanship usually makes pietra dura more valuable than other