Beautiful Roman Mosaic w/ Ornate Geometric Designs

Roman, Eastern Mediterranean, Imperial Period, ca. 4th to 5th centuries CE. An opulent ornamental floor or wall mosaic of rectangular form displaying multiple intricate, abstract patterns, all delineated in thousands of square, rectangular, and triangular glass and stone tesserae of red, yellow, orange, blue, green, black, gray, cream, white, and pink hues. The elaborate mosaic consists of varying decorative motifs of spiral, castellated, concentric, knot-like, floral, and zigzag patterns, each fit into either a square or circular border. Fascinating crescent-shaped designs additionally adorn the area outside each of these square or circular borders. Several of these incredibly involved motifs create wonderful, illusory effects, with many appearing 3-dimensional or mimicking designs of another medium, such as textiles. The fabulously complex, detailed, and sophisticated nature of this mosaic indicates that it came from an unusually rare and expensive floor. Size: 43.5" W x 75" H (110.5 cm x 190.5 cm)

Quite popular throughout the Greco-Roman world, the interlacing patterns scene in this example are likely Solomon's knot variants. The Solomon's knot is named for the biblical monarch Solomon who was known for his wisdom. In the study of ancient mosaics, the Solomon's knot is also known as a "guilloche knot" or a "duplex knot," and a Solomon's knot positioned at the center of four curving arcs is called a "pelta-swastika" (pelta being Latin for shield). The Solomon's Knot symbol has also been found at the Byzantine Monastery at Kursi National Park. It seems that the three main monotheistic religions adopted the symbol. Two different versions of Solomon's knot were revealed in the recently excavated Yattir Mosaic in Jordan. The symbol has also been found woven into an antique Central Asian prayer rug. To the west, one can find Solomon's knot in Moorish Spain, and the British Museum has a 14th century Egyptian Koran with a Solomon's Knot on the frontispiece.

Mosaics (opus tesellatum) are some of our enduring images from the Roman world, not only for their aesthetic beauty, but also because they reveal what Romans chose to depict and see every day decorating their private and public spaces. This example is abstract in its intention and presents the ancients' keen eye for design and fascination with geometry. In the Roman province of Syria, which encompassed most of the ancient Near East/Levant, mosaics seem to have developed as a popular art form relatively late, with most finds coming from the 3rd century CE or later. Syria was one of Rome's wealthiest provinces, but it was also far removed from Rome itself and Roman culture was overlaid on enduring cultural traditions from Hellenistic Greece and the great civilizations that came before it. For example, Antioch-on-the-Orontes (modern day Antakya, Turkey), was the capital of northern Roman Syria, and its excavations in the 1930s revealed more than three hundred mosaic pavements. Popular mosaic themes from this region were often mythological or religious scenes, depicting gods and goddesses; however, sometimes mosaics were created to fit the theme of a building or room.

This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world's largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.

Provenance: private Vero Beach, Florida, USA collection; ex-private collection of a European gentleman, acquired between 1970 and 1980 from a licensed dealer in Lebanon

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#167998
Condition Report: Expected surface wear, commensurate with age. Otherwise, excellent and superbly preserved. The mosaic is mounted on honeycomb, an expensive but useful process that lightens the piece by two thirds for ease of handling and display.