Glass cameo: head of Augustus
Translucent deep amber brown, colorless, and colorless with a bluish tinge.
Oval disk in two layers of varying thickness with flat back, ground edge, and gently sloping upper surface; slight undercutting around edge to head; fused to disk, a carved head in high relief.
Head of beardless man in three-quarter view to right, wearing a laurel wreath; hair in flowing locks over forehead and to front of proper right ear, eyebrows with parting between bridge of nose, large almond-shaped eyes with small, round pupils, pointed nose, small mouth with pursed lips, and prominent chin.
Head intact; disk with broken off chip at bottom right; pinprick bubbles in head; larger bubbles in disk; very little weathering but some dulling on disk.
Oval disk in two layers of varying thickness with flat back, ground edge, and gently sloping upper surface; slight undercutting around edge to head; fused to disk, a carved head in high relief.
Head of beardless man in three-quarter view to right, wearing a laurel wreath; hair in flowing locks over forehead and to front of proper right ear, eyebrows with parting between bridge of nose, large almond-shaped eyes with small, round pupils, pointed nose, small mouth with pursed lips, and prominent chin.
Head intact; disk with broken off chip at bottom right; pinprick bubbles in head; larger bubbles in disk; very little weathering but some dulling on disk.
Artwork Details
- Title: Glass cameo: head of Augustus
- Period: Early Imperial, Tiberian
- Date: early 1st century CE
- Culture: Roman
- Medium: Glass
- Dimensions: Height: 1 1/8in. (2.9cm)
- Classifications: Gems, Glass
- Credit Line: The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76
- Object Number: 74.51.4297
- Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art
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ca. 41–54 CE
1st–2nd century CE
3rd century CE
late 1st–2nd century CE
ca. 50–80 CE
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