Old Glory

As the US returns from the 4th of July holiday weekend, we at CIRCA wanted to stay in the spirit by featuring a patriotic piece. This micromosaic pin measures just 1 1/4 inches and features one of the earliest versions of the American flag in a lovely 10kt gold etched floral motif frame.

When the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, the US did not have an agreed upon flag. It wasn’t until June 14, 1777, that the Continental Congress adopted the resolution that the flag contain thirteen stripes and stars to represent the original thirteen colonies. Because the resolution was not specific, there were numerous variations of the 13 star flag. The first documented US flag was the staggered star pattern shown in the pin above.

Micromosaic is a lost art form that was used to make religious panels in Ancient Rome and in the Byzantine Empire to create religious icons. The technique calls for small mosaic pieces of glass called tesserae, to be painstakingly fitted together. The best work can have as many as 5,000 tesserae per square inch. Micromosaic was first used in jewelry in the late 1700’s, but reached the height of its popularity in the early-mid 19th century. The older the piece, the smaller and more intricate the designs tend to be.

Both the intricacy of the design and the 13 stars on the flag allow us to date this piece to approximately 1830. All micromosaic pieces tend to be fragile, and are extremely difficult to repair. This particular example is missing some pieces; however, the motif and age still make it collectable and interesting.

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