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475. Fragment of a Mosaic Inlay with Floral Theme

Accession Number 76.AF.70.34
Dimensions L. 3.4, W. 2.2, Th. 0.5 cm; Wt. 6.29 g
Date First century BCE–first century CE
Production Area Egypt or Italy
Material Opaque green, red, and yellow and translucent purple and blue
Modeling Technique and Decoration Fusion
View in Collection

Condition

Fragment, broken all around.

Description

The following floral features are partly preserved on a translucent dark green (appearing black) background: one large white and red flower and another whose center is a fine green cross surrounded by yellow, white, greenish, and yellow layers; a cluster of five white and red grains hanging from a curved green branch.

Parts of a lotus seed pod: circular green in the center surrounded by purple dots outlined in yellow. Turquoise elongated feature, probably part of a leave or a petal.

All motifs are distorted on the back side, appearing variegated.

Comments and Comparanda

For the historical and technological evolution of glass inlays in Pharaonic Egypt and the Roman Empire, see comments on cats. 449 and 460.

Provenance

By 1976, Bruce McNall, donated to the J. Paul Getty Museum, 1976

Bibliography

Unpublished

Exhibitions

None