Glass cameo fragment of a large platter or tabletop

Unknown

1st half of 1st century CE · Glass · Greek and Roman Art

Translucent deep purple with opaque white overlay. Everted, rounded rim, with slightly downturned outer lip; shallow convex side; flat bottom with slightly upturned and rounded outer edge. On interior, two raised lines as molding around side, retaining in places traces of white overlay; on exterior, recessed horizontal lines below rim and at edge of side and bottom. Decoration carved in white overlay, comprising a crab, a squid, and two bivalve molluscs, with incised details, such as the naturalistic patterning of the shells and the tenticles of the squid. Rim fragment, broken into a dozen pieces and repaired; many pinprick bubbles; dulling, deep pitting, brilliant iridescence, and patches of brown enamel-like weathering Over a background of deep purple (representing Homer's "wine-dark sea"), a layer of opaque white glass have been added and then carved to represent various sea creatures. The fragment is said to have been found on the island of Capri (in the Bay of Naples, Italy), near the imperial villa where the Emperor Tiberius lived in seclusion between A.D. 27 and 37.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1st half of 1st century CE

Medium

Glass

Culture

Roman

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

Gift of Henry G. Marquand, 1881