Antique Italian micromosaic plaque with gilt bronze frame

Set onto black marble, this fine 19th Century micromosaic depicts a charming interior scene in a rustic dining room of a large, stately house. Shown just left of centre is the lady of the house, leaning on the edge of a table and glancing backwards as two men dressed in colourful clothes lean towards her. At the other end of the table, a friar in religious dress leans forward with his face in his hands, appearing to disapprove of the flirtatious nature of the interaction. The scene is set in front of a large, open brick fireplace, in which the tesserae of the micromosaic are beautifully arranged to accurately depict the patterns of the brickwork.