Bracelet (part of a set)

Art Historical Context

This exquisite 19th-century bracelet, crafted by Roman jeweler G.L. Barberi, the opulent jewelry traditions of Italy's Eternal City. Formed from gleaming gold and adorned with intricate mosaic work—possibly incorporating onyx—this piece measures a delicate 8 × 1¾ inches (20.3 × 4.4 cm) and was designed as part of a matching set, likely for women. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Department of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts, it reflects the era's mastery in metalwork and jewelry-making, blending luxury with fine craftsmanship. Mosaic techniques in Roman jewelry, a hallmark of 19th-century production, involved tiny tesserae of glass or stone set into intricate pictorial scenes, often inspired by classical antiquity. Barberi's work captures Rome's allure as a hub for such decorative arts, appealing to elite travelers and collectors. Donated as a gift of Emily C. Cross in 1943, this bracelet invites us to imagine it gracing the wrist of a fashionable 19th-century woman, evoking the grandeur of Italy's artistic heritage.