Currently not on view
Hexagonal mosaic inlay with lily-and-palmette design,
1st century BCE–1st century CE
Hellenistic to Roman Imperial Period, ca. 30 BCE–476 CE
y1946-89
Information
Title
Hexagonal mosaic inlay with lily-and-palmette design
Dates
1st century BCE–1st century CE
Medium
Opaque red, green, white, and yellow glass on translucent blue background
Dimensions
max. w. 4.8 cm (1 7/8 in.)
Credit Line
Museum purchase, Caroline G. Mather Fund
Object Number
y1946-89
Place Made
Italy ?
Egypt ?, Damanhur
Description
Hexagonal section cut from a bar of composite mosaic glass, featuring a symmetrical, centralized floral motif on a dark blue ground. In the center, a six-petaled rosette with angular, heart-shaped petals is placed around a roundel of lavender, blue, and red opaque glass. Each petal consists of layers of white, green, yellow, and red opaque glass. Around this were six (now four) trefoil opaque yellow lilies with round petals on either side of a central pointed petal; these alternated with six (now five) palmettes rising from opaque red and yellow volutes. Each palmette has a central opaque yellow stem and six red and yellow leaves on a lavender ground.
Type
Materials
Subject
Reputedly from Damanhur, Egypt; purchased by the Museum from John Khayat
