Cameo glass medallion of the emperor Augustus

Unknown

early 1st century CE · Glass · Greek and Roman Art

Matt cobalt blue, deep blue, almost opaque and appearing black, and opaque white. Oval with slightly beveled, ground edge, flat back. Decoration in high relief: bust of male shown frontally, with broad forehead, prominent ears, and clean-shaven features; on head, laurel wreath and chlamys that covers top of head and falls on either side of neck behind ears; below throat, toga hanging in folds. Complete, but damaged with loss of nose and proper right side of bust; dulling and pitting, with small patches of faint creamy weathering. The Emperor Augustus is shown with his head veiled as was the custom when about to perform a sacrifice.

Artist

Unknown

Date

early 1st century CE

Medium

Glass

Culture

Roman

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

Gift of Henry G. Marquand, 1881