A Roman cast mosaic glass rectangular plaque and a bronze holder

LATE 1ST CENTURY B.C./EARLY 1ST CENTURY A.D.

Details

A Roman cast mosaic glass rectangular plaque and a bronze holder
Late 1st Century B.C./early 1st Century A.D.
Mottled opaque aubergine, white and yellow in imitation of porphyry, the upper side polished, the underside unpolished, with bevelled edges, which slides into a rectangular bronze sheet in which a square has been cut out and a shallow bowl with concentric rings has been beaten
5½ x 3 3/8in. (13.8 x 8.5cm.)

Lot Essay

This might be part of a travelling cosmetic or medicine set in which the glass rectangular palette, which slides in with the polished surface downwards, might be secured or on which substances could be mixed when in use. This in turn probably fitted into another compartment and was part of a larger set.

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