Think Small
Tatler Singapore|September 2020
Centuries ago, micro-mosaics were etched into wearable art to depict scenes of great architecture in Rome. Today, these techniques inspire some of the world’s greatest jewellers
Inezita Gay-Eckel
Think Small

If any type of jewellery could call itself a true work of art it would be the micro-mosaic. Painstakingly constructed with the tiniest pieces of glass or enamel-like material called tesserae, micro-mosaics can be made using gold, copper or black Belgian marble, and are inspired by mosaics, which date back more than 2,000 years. Some of the finest examples of mosaics have been excavated at archaeological sites from ancient Rome and the Byzantine Empire. But as an art historian, what fascinates me is that micro-mosaics really took off towards the end of the 18th century and beginning of the 19th century.

Founded in Paris in 2012, L’École, School of Jewelry Arts is the first school established for the general public to learn about the history, culture and savoir faire of the jewellery arts. We now have a second permanent home at K11 Musea in Hong Kong, where two exceptional examples of micro-mosaics are used during one of our jewellery courses.

This story is from the September 2020 edition of Tatler Singapore.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the September 2020 edition of Tatler Singapore.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM TATLER SINGAPOREView All
How To Live Like A Royal In The British Countryside
Tatler Singapore

How To Live Like A Royal In The British Countryside

From Windsor to Bray, all it takes is a speedy jaunt away from the hustle and bustle of London to gain first-hand insights into the lives of the British royal family

time-read
5 mins  |
March 2024
Where Science Meets Skincare
Tatler Singapore

Where Science Meets Skincare

Through years of research, Chanel has determined the relationship between skin health and well‑being based on neuroscience technologies—and it has the products to prove it

time-read
4 mins  |
March 2024
Powder, Peaks And Pro Tips
Tatler Singapore

Powder, Peaks And Pro Tips

Embark on a winter wonderland getaway with this Tatler guide to all things ski, from the best destinations in Asia and Europe to looking chic on the slopes

time-read
8 mins  |
February 2024
HAUTE SPOTS
Tatler Singapore

HAUTE SPOTS

Nearly 15 years since her first visit to Niseko, Grace Chong-Tan’s love for this popular ski town in Hokkaido, Japan, continues to grow over the years. The founder and managing director of a dental practice shares her must-visit list

time-read
1 min  |
March 2024
THE GOLDEN AGE
Tatler Singapore

THE GOLDEN AGE

At the launch of the L'Or de Jean Martell collection in Cognac, France, Martell's cellar master Christophe Valtaud unveils the first limited-edition expression of the Réserve du Château series

time-read
3 mins  |
March 2024
KINGDOM REIGN
Tatler Singapore

KINGDOM REIGN

How UAE's largest property developer Aldar is transforming Abu Dhabi into a land of real estate gold for the investment-seeking jetsetter elite

time-read
5 mins  |
March 2024
LET'S GET (META) PHYSICAL
Tatler Singapore

LET'S GET (META) PHYSICAL

Contrary to popular belief, the traditional practices of feng shui and ba zi are not only alive and well, but thriving among the younger set. Today's masters of Chinese metaphysics share how they are modernising the craft

time-read
6 mins  |
March 2024
COMING OF AGE
Tatler Singapore

COMING OF AGE

Meet the ladies at the front and centre of last year’s Le Bal des Débutantes

time-read
4 mins  |
March 2024
The Path to Parity
Tatler Singapore

The Path to Parity

Four prominent Singapore female leaders shed light on the under-representation of Asian women in global leadership through the lens of their own struggles and triumphs

time-read
8 mins  |
March 2024
Set in Stone
Tatler Singapore

Set in Stone

Tatler chats with Victoria Reynolds, the chief gemologist and vice president of Tiffany & Co, about the intricacies of design, her favourite jewellery and what it means to be a female leader in a male-dominated industry

time-read
5 mins  |
March 2024