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

Overview

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

More Artwork

In the same gallery

In the same medium

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Mosaic floor panel, Stone, tile, and glass, Roman — Mosaic floor panel
Roman
2nd century CE

Glass garland bowl, Glass, Roman — Glass garland bowl
Roman
late 1st century BCE

Glass snake-thread flask shaped like a mouse, Glass, blue, Roman — Glass snake-thread flask shaped like a mouse
Roman
3rd century CE

Glass jug, Glass, Roman — Glass jug
Roman
late 1st–2nd century CE

Glass gladiator cup, Glass, Roman — Glass gladiator cup
Roman
ca. 50–80 CE

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.