Fragment of a Revetment Depicting Fish Scales
1st century BCE–1st century CE
Medium
Glass, mosaic glass technique
Dimensions
3.5 × 2.2 × 0.3 cm (1 3/8 × 7/8 × 1/8 in.)
Classification
fragment
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
67861
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
In ancient Rome, there was a high demand for colorful glass that could dazzle banquet guests alongside the expensive silver and gold serving wares meant to impress. Fragments like this one would have once been a part of larger mosaic dishes. The mosaic pattern was made by sagging molten glass into bowl-shaped molds, a technique used on many of these fragments is similar to millefiori, “thousand flowers” in Italian, a modern glass-making method in which tiny rods of colored glass are bundled toge...
Art Historical Context
This delicate fragment of revetment, crafted by ancient Roman artisans between the first century BCE and the first century CE, offers a glimpse into the luxurious decorative traditions of the era. Measuring just over an inch across, the piece uses mosaic glass technique to render a shimmering pattern of fish scales. Such revetments were typically applied to walls, furniture, or architectural surfaces in wealthy Roman homes and public spaces, transforming ordinary interiors into vibrant, jewel-like environments that celebrated both nature and craftsmanship. The mosaic glass method involved fusing rods of colored glass into intricate designs before slicing them into thin sections—a labor-intensive process that highlights the technical sophistication of Roman glassworkers. Here, the scales likely evoked the fluidity of water or the richness of marine motifs popular in Roman art, symbolizing abundance and the empire’s connection to the sea. Though only a small surviving piece, it reflects broader cultural values of opulence and innovation during the late Republic and early Empire. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago’s collection of Greek, Roman, and Byzantine art, this fragment reminds us how even the tiniest artifacts can illuminate the everyday elegance of ancient life.
About the Artist
Ancient Roman
The artists attributed to "Ancient Roman" in museum collections represent the anonymous craftsmen who produced the vast output of sculpture, frescoes, mosaics, and reliefs defining Roman visual culture from the Republic (c. 509–27 BCE) to the late Empire (c. 395 CE). Individual identities remain elusive, as Roman makers were typically viewed as skilled tradesmen—often enslaved Greeks or provincial...