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Opus Sectile
Opus Sectile

Opus Sectile

Object NameInlay
Made FromGlass
Dateperhaps 1-99
Place MadeRoman Empire; Italy
Techniquecast, cut, assembled
SizeOverall (including plaster matrix) H: 11.5 cm, W: 12 cm
Accession Number57.1.5 B
Credit LineGift of the Victoria and Albert Museum
Curatorial Area(s)
On ViewThe Jerome and Lucille Strauss Study Gallery
Physical DescriptionOpaque red glass, with opaque red and opaque yellow canes and bars, and, transparent deep green and opaque yellow canes; assembled from pieces of cast and cut glass and slices of preformed canes and bars, presumably in an adhesive matrix. Square panel containing part of opus sectile design in modern plaster matrix. Border is same on all four sides and consists of, at center, slice of rectangular bar comprising green rectangle and yellow border; on either side of this, rectangular bar with row of four yellow ring and dot motifs, three incomplete and overlapping and one complete, in red matrix; and at each end, slice of circular cane consisting of yellow rosette with eight petals in red matrix, with yellow border. Inside border, at each corner, red triangle and, inside it, two pieces of rectangular bars with row of five solid yellow circles in red matrix; ends of bars touch corners of rectangular bars at midpoints of sides. Borders, triangles, and bars enclose square area, with sides at 45° to borders of panel, containing, at center, slice of circular cane consisting of yellow rosette with eight petals in red matrix, with yellow border; above and below central cane, vertical rectangular bar with row of four yellow ring and dot motifs, three incomplete and overlapping and one complete, in red matrix; on each side of central cane, horizontal rectangular bar with row of four yellow ring and dot motifs, three incomplete and overlapping and one complete, in red matrix; and, between each vertical and horizontal bar, red triangle. Some components are trimmed at points of contact with circular canes and green and yellow bars.
Provenance
Source Victoria and Albert Museum - 1957-08