Mosaic glass inlay

Unknown

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

Opaque streaky red ground; decoration in opaque white, yellow, and red, partly translucent purple appearing black, and colorless glass. Thin, rectangular plaque, cut from a mosaic composite bar, with flat front, uneven back, and vertical straight sides, with one slightly rounded corner; design extends uniformly through the thickness of the plaque. Proper right side of mask of silenus or old servant with yellow face; features delineated in purple, with red eye and lips, and purple mouth; red and white stripes on cheek; hair, beard, and moustache in rows of white and colorless glass. Broken at top, with upper part of head missing; glossy surface to back; front and edges ground and polished; dulling and pitting of surface bubbles.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1st century BCE–1st century CE

Medium

Glass

Culture

Roman, probably Egyptian

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

Fletcher Fund, 1942