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Catalogue

93. Mosaic Patella Bowl

Accession Number 96.AF.288
Dimensions H. 4.7, Diam. rim 9.7, Diam. base 3.9 cm; Wt. 75.60 g
Date Late first century BCE–early first century CE
Production Area Italy or possibly eastern Mediterranean. Allegedly found at Panticapaeum (Kerch), Crimea
Material Opaque red and yellow and translucent greenish and blue glass
Modeling Technique and Decoration Made from a polychrome disk-shaped blank assembled from fused-together lengths and sections of round mosaic canes; cast, applied base-ring, rotary polished
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Condition

Fully preserved; mended. There is discoloration and weathering on the exterior surface. The interior is not weathered at all; was probably repolished in modern times.

Description

The bowl has a flaring lip; conical, cyma recta body; and flat bottom. It stands on a tall, circular base-ring formed by an applied coil of glass.

The vessel is made of discoid mosaic tesserae of three types: (1) a dark blue central rod surrounded by a currently brownish layer with two rows of yellow rods in it, all set in a translucent blue layer; (2) a red central rod surrounded by a currently brownish, probably originally translucent greenish layer with 10 white rods in it, all set in a translucent blue layer; (3) a red central rod surrounded by a currently brownish, probably originally translucent greenish layer with 10 yellow rods, all set in a translucent blue layer.

The coil of the base is ribbon mosaic comprising 12 parallel layers of glass, in turn six white and six green.

Comments and Comparanda

For the production technique, see and comments on cat. 86. On cast, angular vessels, see comments on cat. 89.

Provenance

1955, Dr. Jacob Hirsch, German, 1874–1955 (Munich, Germany), sold to Barbara and Lawrence Fleischman, 1958; 1955–1958, Estate of Dr. Jacob Hirsch, German, 1874–1955; 1958–1996, Barbara Fleischman and Lawrence Fleischman, American, 1925–1997 (New York, New York), donated to the J. Paul Getty Museum, 1996

Bibliography

, p. 356, cat. no. 269 [not illustrated].

, p. 68.

Exhibitions

None