Mosaic glass inlay

Unknown

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

Translucent cobalt blue ground; decoration in opaque white and yellow, partly translucent purple, and translucent blue. Thick, oblong plaque, cut from a mosaic composite bar, with uneven upper and lower faces, and vertical straight sides; design extends uniformly through the thickness of the plaque. Head of an owl, facing forward, surrounded by tiny white circles; white forehead and face with tiny scale pattern on cheeks; eyebrows, nose, and chin in blue and white stripes; pointed beak in white; eyes, nostril, and mouth in yellow with purple dots. Intact, but all surfaces ground and slight chips on edges; dulling and slight pitting.

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