Medallion
100-200
Medium
Decorative Arts-Glass
Classification
Decorative Arts-Glass
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of John Gellatly
Accession Number
1929.8.167.1
Art Historical Context
Welcome to the Smithsonian American Art, where we encounter the enigmatic *Medallion*, a delicate glass artifact crafted by an unidentified artist between 100 and 200 AD. This piece exemplifies early decorative arts in glass, a medium prized in antiquity for its versatility and luminous beauty. Likely produced during the height of the Roman Empire, medallions were often used as pendants, inlays, or ornamental inserts, showcasing the era's advanced glassblowing and molding techniques. Glassmaking in this period represented a pinnacle of ancient craftsmanship, with artisans achieving transparen...
About the Artist
Unidentified ( ) · –