An antique Victorian pietra dura flower pin, set in 18K yellow gold. Circa 1870.
Pietra dura is Italian for ‘hard stone’ and refers to a type of mosaic in which various hardstones are inlaid into a piece of hardstone. Pietra dura is a specialty of Florence, but is produced throughout Italy as well as in Russia. Pietra dura jewelry was especially popular as souvenir jewelry in the early- and mid-nineteenth century.
