plaque
Object NameMosaic Plaque with Griffin
Made FromGlass
Date25 BCE-99 CE
Place MadeRoman Empire; probably Egypt
Techniquemosaic glass or millefiori
SizeOverall H: 1.6 cm, W: 1.9 cm, Th: 0.3 cm
Accession Number59.1.99
Curatorial Area(s)
Exhibitions
Designs in Miniature: The Story of Mosaic Glass
Glass from the Ancient World
Verres Antiques de la Collection R.W. Smith
On ViewAncient Gallery
Physical DescriptionMosaic Plaque with Griffin. Canes of opaque white, opaque yellow, opaque brick-red, opaque grey-blue, greyish-turquoise and opaque medium blue delineated with translucent deep blue in a deep blue matrix, some pitting, edges retain thick brown weathering product, both surfaces repolished recently; mosaic glass or millefiori technique. Thin slice of a roughly rectangular cane preserving the design of an elaborate and intricately patterned griffin with predominantly yellow protome, mouth open, red tongue revealed, right leg raised, the head is set off from the body by an elaborate grey, blue and turquoise collar while the intricate wings spring from a central scale pattern of white, grey and red. The arced feather patterns are delineated with red veins cased with yellow and thin zig-zag decoration of blue and white; the carefully delineated protome is attached to a rather stylized and flame-like body of grey-turquoise outlined in red which may suggest a composite creature.Provenance
Source
Ray Winfield Smith
(American, 1897-1982) - 1959-07-27
