Glass mosaic ornament in the form of a shell

Unknown

ca. 1st century CE · Glass · Greek and Roman Art

Translucent cobalt blue, appearing black, with overlays in opaque white and yellow. Solid block with flat underside in the shape of a bivalve mollusc with radiating ribs. Decoration of nine marvered trails applied across shell in alternating yellow and white. Intact, but chipped around edges; dulling, pitting of surface bubbles, and faint iridescence. This unusual object may have served as part of a wall inlay.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1st century CE

Medium

Glass

Culture

Roman

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891