A micro-mosaic depicting a bird and cherries, 18th century

A remarkable circular micromosaic depicting a multicoloured parrot, with tesserae arranged in overlapping scale that accurately capture the texture of the feathers. At the centre of the composition, the bird is shown in profile, facing left, perched firmly on a branch that appears to be part of a tree rooted in the ground. It holds a double orange-coloured cherry in its beak, leaving one behind on the branch. The whole is set off by a background of white tesserae encircled by a dark blue frieze featuring white circular motifs. The piece is set in a wooden frame with a gilded brass border.
Roman work, attributed to Giacomo Raffaelli
Visible diameter 6.5 cm.