Glass mosaic inlay

Unknown

late 1st century BCE–1st century CE · Glass · Greek and Roman Art

Translucent cobalt blue ground; decoration in opaque white, yellow, red, and greyish green. Circular, flat, and very thin plaque. Symmetrical lily and palmette motif arranged around a central six-petaled rosette, with six palmettes with spiral volutes below forming a star-shaped frame to the central rosette, alternating with six lilies in solid white. Cracked and repaired with two minor chips on edge; upper and underside and edge ground and polished; pitted surface bubbles. These inlays, despite their different shapes and colors, all have the same basic pattern, comprising palmettes and lilies or lotus flowers. Although probably of Egyptian origin, such inlays were popular in Rome, and similar designs are found in Roman decorative arts.

Artist

Unknown

Date

late 1st century BCE–1st century CE

Medium

Glass

Culture

Roman

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917