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Art Institute of Chicago

Spotted

Ancient Egyptian — Fragment of an Inlay Depicting a Theater Mask

Ancient Egyptian

Fragment of an Inlay Depicting a Theater Mask

-100

This half face of a woman or theatrical mask was made from a bundle of dozens of colorful glass rods that were fused together. The resulting bar or cane of glass was then heated and stretched out, thereby miniaturizing the pattern. Slices of the cane were placed in symmetrical pairs to form a complete face. Such inlays embellished furniture, boxes, and household shrines to the gods.

Medium
Glass, mosaic glass technique
Dimensions

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Spotted works by Ancient Egyptian

About this work

Ancient Egyptian, Fragment of an Inlay Depicting a Theater Mask, -100

This half face of a woman or theatrical mask was made from a bundle of dozens of colorful glass rods that were fused together. The resulting bar or cane of glass was then heated and stretched out, thereby miniaturizing the pattern. Slices of the cane were placed in symmetrical pairs to form a complete face. Such inlays embellished furniture, boxes, and household shrines to the gods.

Medium
Glass, mosaic glass technique
Dimensions
1.4 x 0.4 cm
Year
-100
Seen at
Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Related themes

Theater Mask, Artifact, Historic, Roman Period, Decorative Arts, Fragment, Glass Mosaic, Multicolor, Ancient, Egyptian

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Collected by

Art Institute of Chicago