Glass mosaic vessel fragment

Unknown

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

Translucent cobalt and turquoise blue, partially appearing green, purple appearing opaque red, opaque white and yellow, and colorless. Upright rim with beveled edge; slightly convex-curving side expanding downward, then turned in sharply to bottom. Composite mosaic pattern formed from large sections of a single cane in irregular serpentine bands of green and blue, outlined in purple, yellow, white, and colorless. Polished exterior, with some pitting of surface bubbles; dulling and creamy, iridescent weathering on interior, rim, and edges. Rotary polishing marks on interior. The fragment belongs either to a shallow dish or box (pyxis).

Artist

Unknown

Date

late 1st century BCE–early 1st century CE

Medium

Glass

Culture

Roman

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917