During the 1860s, men and women from America and England were obsessed with The Grand Tour. It was an educational rite of passage on which they'd see the ruins of ancient Rome, study French in Paris, listen to music throughout the Continent, and view art and architecture in person that up till then they'd only viewed in books. Perhaps most importantly, they'd shop for souvenirs to bring home; this proved that they'd been on The Grand Tour and were therefore very worldly and cultured. This bangle - made with glass tesserae to emulate the mosaic floors in ancient Roman villas - was one of those souvenirs. The gilt is fading, but then again, so is the aristocracy.
MATERIALS: gilt silver, glass tesserae
AGE: c. 1860
CONDITION: Very good - gilding has heavily faded
SIZE: 6.5" inner circumference, 3/8" width