Byzantine-Style Mosaic Necklace with Christ and Twelve Apostles

About this artwork

The age and origin of this necklace are unknown, but many signs point to creation in Italy in the late nineteenth century. Its medallions loosely represent Christ and the twelve apostles, with each face a small mosaic construction of cut shapes in mother of pearl and Venetian glass. These resemble portraits of saints decorating Byzantine-era boxes, book covers, and chalices in the Treasury of St. Mark's Basilica and other museums. However, jewelry was not a standard element of the attire of prie...