18th Century Grand Tour "Two Monks with Dinner" Pietra Dura Plaque miniature This very special little object

This very special little object is a patch box

It's crafted in 18 karat gold and modelled after the infamous fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) - albeit with black instead of white spots

tests as 18k gold and platinum

Quite remarkably

A stunning late Victorian curb link bracelet set with alternating pearls and demantoid garnets

18th Century Grand Tour "Two Monks with Dinner" Pietra Dura Plaque miniature This very special little objectDATE: 18th Century, c. 1720 I mistook this for a painting at first.. but it's actually the most incredible Florentine Pietra Dura (literally hard stone) mosaic portraying two monks delighting in the food from a copper pot. The execution, the details and selection of stone (particularly depicting the faces and the plate of charcuterie), is utterly breathtaking with seemingly seamless edges where the stones have been meticulously cut to fit around each