Mosaic glass inlay

1st century BCE–1st century CE
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 166
Opaque streaky red ground; decoration in opaque white, yellow, and red, partly translucent purple appearing black and light blue, and colorless glass.
Thin, rectangular plaque, cut from a mosaic composite bar, with flat front, uneven back, and vertical straight sides, with sharp corners; design extends uniformly through the thickness of the plaque.
Proper right side of female head with white face, outlined in purple; features delineated in blue, with red lips; hair in rows of purple tresses outlined in yellow, with three corkscrew curls hanging below side of face; above hair, another thick outline in purple and yellow diadem with four projecting spikes.
Intact, but some chips along edges; glossy surfaces to back and edges; front ground and polished; pitting of surface bubbles.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Mosaic glass inlay
  • Period: Late Hellenistic or Early Imperial
  • Date: 1st century BCE–1st century CE
  • Culture: Roman, probably Egyptian
  • Medium: Glass
  • Dimensions: Overall: 1 3/16 x 9/16 in. (3 x 1.4 cm)
  • Classification: Glass
  • Credit Line: Fletcher Fund, 1942
  • Object Number: 42.11.37
  • Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

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