Object Image

Glass mosaic fragment

Unknown Artist

Body fragment.

Translucent purple, turquoise blue appearing deep blue green, opaque white, yellow, and brick red.

Convex curving side, with one long edge trimmed into a straight line.

Composite pattern formed from polygonal sections of three canes: one in a purple ground with a hollow white circle and a small, inner yellow circle around blue (?) ground with a central white rod; a second in a turquoise blue ground outlined in white and a circle of white dots around a red circle and central yellow rod, and the third in a turquoise blue ground with a circle of yellow dots around red and white circle and a central yellow rod.

Polished exterior; pitting of surface bubbles on exterior; dulling, pitting, and creamy iridescent weathering on interior and jagged edges.

Credit: Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891

Late 1st century B.C.-early 1st century A.D.
Glass; cast
1.6 x 2.7cm
91.1.1979
Image and text © Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2019

Where you'll find this

The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Permanent collection