THE BOX BY GIACOMO SIRLETTI (1755-1837), MARKED, STAMPED WITH THE ROME STANDARD MARK FOR 18 CARAT GOLD 1815-1870, THE MICROMOSAIC PLAQUE ROME, CIRCA 1810

The Ponte Nomentano is a Roman bridge in Rome which carried the Via Nomentana over the Aniene. Standing outside the city limits for most of its history, the picturesque bridge is noted for its medieval bridge tower, which served to protect this important northern approach to Rome. The bridge today is surrounded by a park, well within the municipal limits of Rome, and restricted to pedestrians. Giacomo Sirletti was born in Rome in 1755. He initially trained and worked as a gem-engraver and gained his licence in 1803. He subsequently opened a shop at via S. Silvestro o Convertite no. 3 in 1811 and he entered two marks as a silversmith in the same year. He worked up until his death in 1837. (C. G. Bulgari, Argentieri, Gemmari e Orafi d'Italia, Rome, vol. 11, pp. 415-416). A further example of his work is in the Victoria & Albert Museum (inv. no. 938:1, 2-1882).