Fragment of an Inlay
1st century BCE–1st century CE
Medium
Glass, mosaic glass technique
Dimensions
4.1 × 4.6 × 0.6 cm (1 5/8 × 1 3/16 × 1/4 in.)
Classification
fragment
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
67860
Art Historical Context
This delicate *Fragment of an Inlay hails from ancient Rome during the late Republic to early Imperial period (1st century BCE–1 century CE). Measuring just 4.1 × 4.6 × 0.6 cm, this tiny glass piece was likely part of a larger decorative inlay for luxury furniture, walls, or vessels in elite Roman homes. Such fragments offer a glimpse into the opulent world of Roman domestic life, where intricate designs showcased wealth and refined taste. Crafted using the sophisticated mosaic glass technique, artisans fused rods of colored glass into patterned canes, then sliced them into thin sections to c...
About the Artist
Ancient Roman
The artists attributed to "Ancient Roman" in museum collections represent the anonymous craftsmen who produced the vast output of sculpture, frescoes, mosaics, and reliefs defining Roman visual culture from the Republic (c. 509–27 BCE) to the late Empire (c. 395 CE). Individual identities remain elusive, as Roman makers were typically viewed as skilled tradesmen—often enslaved Greeks or provincial...