Beschreibung:

An Italian micro mosaic snuff box featuring two hounds bull baitingprobably Rome, circa 1800
Rectangular form, the hinged cover set with a fine micro mosaic panel depicting two hunting hounds baiting a bull against a rugged landscape, set within a gold moulded frame, a gold thumbpiece to the front, the main body in polished tortoiseshell, length 9cm.FootnotesFor a near identical example of this micro mosaic, please refer to Jeanette Hanisee Gabriel, 'Micromosaics - Private Collections', (Brian McCarthy: United States, 2016), 'Plaque with Bull Baiting', Rome 1800-1825, Provenance: Dario Ghio, Monaco; private collection, plate 92, p.134
From medieval times on Carnival Sunday in Rome, dangerous sports such as the baiting of bulls by men and dogs, were held on the plain around Monte Testaccio. In this mosaic narrative, two dogs have been set upon by a bull and risk being gored by its sharp horns. This form of cruel entertainment continued well into the twentieth century.