Fragment of Cameo Glass Plaque with Sheep

Place of OriginItaly, likely Rome or Bay of Naples

Dateabout 15 BCE - 25 CE (Roman, Augustan)

DimensionsL: 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm); W: 3/4 in. (2.0 cm)

MediumCameo glass

ClassificationGlass

Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1923.1551

Not on View

DescriptionThis fragment of Roman cameo glass features an opaque white design layered over a translucent cobalt blue background. The detailed depiction showcases the head of a sheep with a stippled wool coat, rendered in a naturalistic style.

Label TextThis fragment exemplifies Roman cameo glass from the 1st century CE, likely produced in Rome during the Augustan or Julio-Claudian periods. The piece features an opaque white depiction of a sheep's head with a stippled wool coat, set against an opaque blue background. Cameo glass was a luxury art form in ancient Rome, involving the fusion of colored glass layers and meticulous carving to reveal intricate designs. Such pieces were highly valued for their craftsmanship and were often associated with the elite of Roman society. Acquired by Edward Drummond Libbey in 1919 from the family of Thomas Hulse Curtis. The Curtis collection was largely acquired in the 1890s from Charles Caryl Coleman, an American artist who resided first in Rome and later on the island of Capri. This collection history strongly suggests a findspot in or around Rome or the Bay of Naples.