plaque

Object NamePlaque with Inlaid Dolphin

Made FromGlass, Gold

Date99 BCE-99 CE

TechniqueCast in two layers, cut, inlaid

SizeOverall H: 4.4 cm, W: 4.6 cm, Th: 0.4 cm

Accession Number66.1.79

Curatorial Area(s)

Ancient

Exhibitions

Animals in Glass

Place Made

Roman Empire; probably Egypt

Physical DescriptionTranslucent deep blue glass over opaque white, inlaid with opaque brown and yellow canes, and opaque red, yellow, green, brown, and brownish yellow; gold wire; cast in two layers, cut and inlaid. Plaque: almost square, with beveled edges. Flat surface decorated with dolphin (or similar marine creature) and four small motifs, one at each corner. Dolphin swims downward from top left to bottom right, apparently with loop in body (which resembles coiled body of snake); main elements outlined with gold wire and filled with small pieces of cane and monochrome glass: snout is deep blue and red, top of head is green, eye is deep blue and red, lower jaw is brown and yellow cane, front of body is brownish yellow; pelvic fins are brown, loop in body is brown and yellow cane, back of body is yellow, and tail is brown and yellow cane. Each corner motif has two roughly rectangular red inlays parallel to sides of plaque and meeting at 90°, with yellow drop-shaped element between them.
Provenance

Provenance Remark

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