Glass mosaic bowl fragment
Unknown Artist
late 1st century BCE–early 1st century CE
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
H.: 1 3/8 x 1 1/2 in. (3.5 x 3.8 cm)
Classification
Glass
Culture & Period
Roman · Early Imperial
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891
Accession Number
91.1.1738
Art Historical Context
This delicate glass mosaic bowl fragment, to the late 1st century BCE through early 1st century, offers a glimpse into the opulent world of Early Imperial Rome. Measuring just 1 3/8 x 1 1/2 inches (3.5 x 3.8 cm), it once formed part of a larger vessel, likely used for dining or display among the elite. Crafted during the transition from Republic to Empire under Augustus, such pieces reflect Rome's growing mastery of glass, blending functionality with lavish decoration. The mosaic technique—creating intricate patterns by fusing colored glass rods and slicing them into cross-sections—produced v...