Egypt, Ptolemaic to early Romano-Egyptian period, ca. 332 BCE to first half of 1st century CE. A fine gathering of nine fragmentary, mold-cast, opaque glass inlays meant to decorate recessed areas of wooden coffins or limestone reliefs. Two curved fragments resemble the bushy tip of a lion tail, and three fragments depict pairs of parallel feline feet. One red-hued fragment shows a pair of human feet with the bottom of a dress at the ankles. Two human leg fragments extend from the knee to the foot sole, and the largest fragment exhibits the form of a lengthy human arm with incised fingers. Size of largest (arm): 3.2" L x 0.25" W (8.1 cm x 0.6 cm)
For a wonderful example of glass inlays inserted into a wooden coffin, please see: Stern, E. Marianne and Birgit Schlick-Nolte. "Early Glass of the Ancient World: 1600 B.C. - A.D. 50 | Ernesto Wolf Collection." Verlag Gerd Hatje, Germany, 1994, p. 60, fig. 90.
Provenance: ex-Dr. Sid Port collection, California, USA, acquired in the 1970s; ex-Norman Blankman collection, New York, USA, acquired in the 1950s in Cairo, Egypt
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#153323
Condition
All items are fragments of larger glass compositions and have been professionally cleaned and conserved. Repairs to human feet, both legs, and largest arm, with light resurfacing and adhesive residue along break lines. All items have minor nicks and abrasions to faces and peripheries, with softening to some finer details and fading to original coloration. Light earthen deposits throughout, and nice rainbow iridescence on some fragments.