Roman, Red glass mosaic tessera pendant, Roman, circa 1st - 3rd century AD

Roman

Red glass mosaic tessera pendant, Roman, circa 1st - 3rd century AD

Glass, gold

Drop of pendant including loop: 1.9cm
Length of chain: 18 in (adjustable to 16 in)

£ 1,800.00

Roman, Red glass mosaic tessera pendant, Roman, circa 1st - 3rd century AD

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Further images

A deep red ancient Roman glass mosaic tessera set in a modern 18 carat gold pendant.

Provenance

Private collection, UK, acquired before 2000

Literature

A tessera, meaning 'cube' in Latin, was a small piece of glass cut into a cubical shape for mosaic works. Glass tesserae were used in Roman mosaics to provide pure bright blues, reds and greens that could not be found in more durable natural stones such as marble and limestone.

Roman mosaics were commissioned to adorn and impress guests inside private homes and villas. Wealthy Romans chose themes to reflect their status and interests. Mosaics were mainly used to decorate floors, as they were a durable and lavish solution to enliven a room.

These small pieces of glass are as vibrant and brightly coloured today as they were 2,000 years ago.

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