Mosaic Plaque

Fused mosaic plaque: figural classical motif-half-face of a satyr decorated with leaves for a Bacchic rite.

Historical period(s)
Ptolemaic Dynasty or Roman period, 100 BCE-100 CE
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
H x W x D: 9.6 x 3 x 2.1 cm (3 3/4 x 1 3/16 x 13/16 in)
Geography
Egypt
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1909.529a-c
On View Location
Freer Gallery 20: A Collector’s Eye: Freer in Egypt
Classification(s)
Glass
Type

Mosaic plaque

Keywords
Egypt, mask, Ptolemaic Dynasty (305 - 30 BCE), Roman Period (30 BCE - 395 CE)
Provenance

To 1909
Giovanni Dattari (circa 1858-1923), Cairo, Egypt, to 1909 [1]

From 1909 to 1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Giovanni Dattari in 1909 [2]

From 1920
Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

Notes:

[1] See S.I. 189, Miscellaneous List, Egyptian Glass, pgs. 1 and 17, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. This piece is part of a collection of glass that was purchased en bloc and includes 1,388 specimens (for further purchase information, see the folder for F1909.332).

[2] See note 1.

[3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Charles Lang Freer 1854-1919
Giovanni Dattari (C.L. Freer source) 1858-1923

Description

Fused mosaic plaque: figural classical motif-half-face of a satyr decorated with leaves for a Bacchic rite.

Published References
  • Robert K. Liu. Roman Mosaic: Face Plaques and Beads. vol. 31, no. 5 Los Angeles, July 2008. .
  • Robert Steven Bianchi. Those Ubiquitous Glass Inlays, Part Two. vol. 5 New York. pp. 11-20.
  • Richard Ettinghausen. Ancient Glass in the Freer Gallery of Art. Washington, 1962. p. 19, fig. 45.
  • Charis Mahnke. Alexandrinische Mosaikglaseinlagen: Die Typologie, Systematik und Herstellung von Gesichterdarstellungen in der ptolemaischen Glaskunst. Philippika Wiesbaden. no. 33, pp. 21-24, 100, 101.
  • Robert Steven Bianchi. Those Ubiquitous Glass Inlays from Pharaonic Egypt: Suggestions About Their Functions and Dates. vol. 25 Corning, N.Y. pp. 29-35.
  • Susan H. Auth. Mosaic Glass Mask Plaques and the Ancient Theater. vol. 41. pp. 51-72.
  • Robert H. Brill. Ancient Glass. vol. 209, no. 5 New York, November 1963. pp. 120-130.
  • C. Insley Green. Studies on Ancient Egypt in Honour of H.S. Smith (1999). ondon. pp. 147-149.
  • Susan H. Auth. Ancient Egyptian Glass from the Dattari Collection. vol. 118, no. 258 London, August 1983. pp. 160-163, fig. 5, 6.
  • Marie Dominique Nenna. Les Elements d'incrustratation: une industrie egyptienne du verre. Alessandria e il mondo ellenistico-romano Rome. pp. 377-378.
Collection Area(s)
Ancient Egyptian Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
SI Usage Statement

Usage Conditions Apply

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery welcome information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

citation | Save this image How to download an image | Request Permission | Terms of Use