Dish
Mid 2nd-early 1st century BCE
Medium
Glass, mosaic
Dimensions
3.2 × 13.3 cm (1 1/4 × 5 1/4 in.); Diam.: 13.3 cm (5 1/4 in.)
Classification
vessel
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
184325
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This luminous bowl was made using the laborious and time-consuming composition-cast mosaic glass technique. The particular combination of colors and patterns suggests that this lovely dish was created in the Eastern Mediterranean, a region that grew wealthy from trade with Asian cultures. The town homes and country houses of the local elite boasted beautifully frescoed walls, colorful mosaic floors, and lush, private gardens embellished with decorative sculptures for the sumptuous alfresco banqu...
About the Artist
Ancient Greek
The artist known simply as "Ancient Greek" represents the anonymous masters of Attic vase painting, a cornerstone of Classical Greek art from the Archaic and Classical periods (circa 700–300 BCE). Little is known of their personal life, as ancient Greek potters and painters rarely signed their works or left biographical traces; early life and training remain not well documented. These creators ope...