Couch and footstool with bone carvings and glass inlays

Roman

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 168

These pieces of furniture have been reassembled from fragments, some of which may come from the imperial villa of Lucius Verus (co-emperor, A.D. 161–169), on the Via Cassia outside Rome. It is not certain that the square glass panels are original to the bed frame and stool, but the carved bone inlays are paralleled on other Roman couches. On the couch legs are friezes of huntsmen, horses, and hounds flanking Ganymede, the handsome Trojan youth who was abducted by Zeus in the guise of an eagle to serve as his wine steward; on the footstool are scenes of winged cupids and leopards; and on the sides of the bed frame, the striking lion protomes have eyes inlaid with glass.

#1207. Couch and footstool with bone carvings and glass inlays

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Couch and footstool with bone carvings and glass inlays, Wood, bone, glass, Roman

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Couch and footstool with bone carvings and glass inlays, Wood, bone, glass, Roman
Couch and footstool with bone carvings and glass inlays, Wood, bone, glass, Roman
Couch and footstool with bone carvings and glass inlays, Wood, bone, glass, Roman
Couch and footstool with bone carvings and glass inlays, Wood, bone, glass, Roman
Couch and footstool with bone carvings and glass inlays, Wood, bone, glass, Roman
Couch and footstool with bone carvings and glass inlays, Wood, bone, glass, Roman

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