Irregular disk (amulet ?)
4th century?
Classification
Jewelry and Ornament
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Accession Number
F1909.890
Tags
About this artwork
To 1909
Art Historical Context
This enigmatic *Irregular Disk (Amulet?)* hails from ancient Syria, likely dating to the 4th CE—a time when the region bridged Roman, Byzantine, and early Islamic influences in the Ancient Near East. Classified as jewelry and ornament, its irregular shape suggests it was worn as a protective talisman, a common practice in antiquity to ward off evil or invoke good fortune. Crafted from glass, the piece exemplifies early glassmaking techniques, where artisans molded molten silica into small, portable forms for personal adornment. The disk's striking iridescence, a shimmering rainbow effect, res...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...