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480. Fragment of a Mosaic Inlay with Floral Theme

Accession Number 83.AF.28.15.a–b
Dimensions Group record for two-part records with dimensions: 83.AF.28.15.a: L. 3.0, W. 2.1 cm; 83.AF.28.15.b: L. 2.7, W. 2.5 cm, W. (of the entire band) 3.8, pres. H. 2.9 cm; Wt. 8.95 g
Date First century BCE–first century CE
Production Area Egypt or Italy
Material Opaque yellow and green and translucent dark blue and purple glass
Modeling Technique and Decoration Fusion
View in Collection

Condition

Two fragments; parts of two straight original edges forming a right angle are preserved.

Description

Plaque or band with vertical floral pattern. Parts of two rows of decorative leaves appear in dark blue matrix in the preserved fragments. The elongated leaves are green and yellow outlined in translucent purple (appearing black). One half of the leaf is rendered with darker green glass and the other half with lighter, yellowish green glass, as if part of the plant was in shadow and the other in direct sunlight.

On the back side, the same motifs appear, distorted, and in big areas covered by translucent purple glass.

Comments and Comparanda

For the historical and technological evolution of glass inlays in Pharaonic Egypt and the Roman Empire, see comments on cat. 449. For closer parallels, see cat. 453.

Provenance

1983, Jiří K. Frel, 1923–2006, donated to the J. Paul Getty Museum, 1983

Bibliography

Unpublished

Exhibitions

None