Fragment from a Roman cameo vessel, c.mid 1st century AD
Fragment from a cameo glass vessel, the matrix in translucent cobalt blue, the raised relief decoration in opaque white showing a vine with two large leaves and a bunch of grapes, the details of the veining of the leaves and the serpentine branch are finely incised. A line incised to the interior, just below the rim, which has the remains of the handle. Some iridescence to the exterior, the white slightly degraded.
This fragment comes from the rim of a skyphos, the vine indicating that wine was contained within, part of the handle can be seen to the right side of the rim.
Provenance
Various Properties; Sotheby's, London, UK, 8th July 1984
Sotheby's, London, UK, 16th-17th November 1987
R.S.L. collection, London, UK; acquired from the above, stock no. 87.197Accompanied by letters from the relevant Greek and Italian authorities renouncing any current or future claim over this piece.
Literature
Compare an example previously owned by Charles Ede which was once in the Sangiorgi Collection, and is now in the Australian National University, Canberra, Australia, acquisition number 2001.02For a discussion on glass cameo fragments see Chloe Zerwick, A Short History of Glass (Corning, 1980), p.26
Publications
Sotheby's, London, Antiquities, 8th July 1984, lot 44Sotheby's, London, Ancient Glass, 16th-17th November 1987, lot 24
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