Egyptian Graeco-Roman Mosaic Glass Inlays - Pornoboskos

Egypt, Graeco-Roman period, ca. 3rd century BCE to 1st century CE. An intricate pair of mosaic glass inlays, each cut in succession from the same cane, depicting a mask of a satyr known as "Pornoboskos" (literally "The Brothel Keeper" or "The Pimp"). Pornoboskos is presented in half-portrait with thin lime-green glass composing the wavy beard, cupped ears, nose, eye lids, shaggy coiffure, and ivy leaves; crimson glass forming the plump lips, characteristically-red eye sclera, and diadem band; black-and-grey glass forming the pupils and iris; and cobalt-blue glass for the ceiling; all within a marigold-yellow matrix. An amazing and rare example of high-quality mosaic glass artistry from ancient Egypt! Size of each (both are relatively similar): 0.5" W x 0.875" H (1.3 cm x 2.2 cm).

For a stylistically-similar example with more pronounced details and colors, please see: Stern, E. Marianne and Birgit Schlick-Nolte. "Early Glass of the Ancient World: 1600 B.C. - A.D. 50 | Ernesto Wolf Collection." Verlag Gerd Hatje, Germany, 1994, pp. 382-383, no. 131

Another stylistically-similar example showing the entire face hammered for $29,900 at Christie's, New York "Ancient Glass formerly in the G. Sangiorgi Collection" auction (sale 9204, June 3, 1999, lot 51): https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/a-roman-mosaic-glass-inlay-egypt-circa-1519702-details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=1519702&sid=5ef458fe-3931-476d-aca5-f2c7ae2594dc

Provenance: private California, USA collection, acquired in Switzerland prior to 1972

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#147623
Condition Report: Both items have very minor abrasions to obverse, peripheries, and verso, with pinprick bubble holes, and light encrustations along peripheries, otherwise intact and excellent. Light earthen deposits along peripheries and within some bubble holes.