With its simple outline and bold chromatic scheme, this is one of Castellani’s most powerful and intriguing jewels, and one of our personal favourites.
Although this brooch is realised in micromosaic, it reminds us of gold and cloisonné enamel Byzantine medallions depicting religious subjects. In fact, the source of inspiration here is a Byzantine brooch of the 8th or 9th century AD now in the Louvre Museum, decorated with an enamelled mythological beast at the centre of a gold disk. Generally faithful to the originals, in this case Castellani substitutes the subtle hues of the enamel work with a brightly coloured micromosaic decoration.