Glass mosaic inlay

late 1st century BCE–early 1st century CE
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 171
Translucent turquoise green; decoration in opaque white and yellow, and translucent purple.
Diamond-shaped thin, flat plaque.
Symmetrical bug-shaped motif, with wings represented by white and purple stripes.
Complete but with minor chips on edges; upper side and edges ground and polished; pitted surface bubbles, iridescent weathering on back.
The inlay is made from two sections cut from the same cane of mosaic glass, with decoration appearing in mirror image.

The design may represent a winged beetle.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Glass mosaic inlay
  • Period: Hellenistic
  • Date: late 1st century BCE–early 1st century CE
  • Culture: Egyptian, Ptolemaic or Roman
  • Medium: Glass; cast
  • Dimensions: Other: 15/16 in. (2.4 cm)
  • Classification: Glass
  • Credit Line: Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
  • Object Number: 17.194.395
  • Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

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