Art Institute of Chicago

Fragment of an Inlay Depicting a Theater Mask

Egyptian

Date

late 1st century BCE-early 1st century CE

Medium

Glass, mosaic glass technique

Culture

Egypt

Department

Arts of Africa

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

This half face of a woman or theatrical mask was made from a bundle of dozens of colorful glass rods that were fused together. The resulting bar or cane of glass was then heated and stretched out, thereby miniaturizing the pattern. Slices of the cane were placed in symmetrical pairs to form a complete face. Such inlays embellished furniture, boxes, and household shrines to the gods.

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