Amber disk with a nereid riding a triton

ca. 1st–early 2nd century CE

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 166

Valued for its rarity and richness, amber was an increasingly favored precious material from the time of the emperor Nero, when it became more widely available. The elder Pliny, in his Natural History, tells us that amber was imported from the Baltic coast of Germany. The style of the carving and iconography of this piece look back to Hellenistic art. The disk preserves the remains of silver pins that were part of a handle on either side of the Nereid. It likely served as a lid, possibly for a small pyxis (box).

Artwork Details

Overview

References

Title: Amber disk with a nereid riding a triton
Period: Imperial
Date: ca. 1st–early 2nd century CE
Culture: Roman
Medium: Amber
Dimensions: Diam.: 2 3/4 in. (7 cm)
Classification: Miscellaneous-Amber
Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1923
Object Number: 23.160.98
Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

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