Mosaic plaques of an Apis, or sacred bull of Memphis

Object Details

• Description

  Fused mosaic plaque: ancient Egyptian motif-Figure of an Apis or sacred bull of Memphis on a pedestal with floral decoration.

• Label

  From the New Kingdom (1550-1070 B.C.E.)onward, Egyptian artisans used glass to fashion small objects such as jewelry, amulets, and miniatures. They also combined glass with other materials, often metal or wood. Colored glass inlays formed in molds adorned a variety of objects, including jewelry, furniture, and coffins. From the New Kingdom through the Roman period (30 B.C.E.-395 C.E.), for example, the eyes and brows of faces on coffins made from wood, plaster, and other materials were often inlaid in glass.

  Inlays could also be made from mosaic glass, in which long rods of colored glass were heated and fused to create a multicolored image or design. The resulting cane (or mosaic cane) was then cut into a number of sections, each bearing the same design, to form vessels or other objects.

• Provenance

  To 1909

  Giovanni Dattari (circa 1858-1923), Cairo, Egypt, to 1909 [1]

  From 1909 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Giovanni Dattari in 1909 [2]

  From 1920

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

  Notes:

  [1] See S.I. 189, Miscellaneous List, Egyptian Glass, pgs. 1 and 17, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. This piece is part of a collection of glass that was purchased en bloc and includes 1,388 specimens (for further purchase information, see the folder for F1909.332).

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  A Collector’s Eye: Freer in Egypt (January 28, 2023 to 2025)

  Charles Lang Freer and Egypt (June 13, 1998 to October 2, 2011)

  Untitled Exhibition, South Corridor (December 10, 1984 to July 10, 1986)

  Ancient Glass (May 26, 1982 to June 25, 1982)

  Untitled Exhibition, South Corridor (March 6, 1981 to May 7, 1984)

  Ancient Glass (June 1962 to (end date unknown))

  Glass Exhibition, in honor of VI International Congress on Glass (July 4, 1962 to December 3, 1962)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Giovanni Dattari (1858-1923) (C.L. Freer source)

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  Egypt

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Jewelry and Ornament

• On View

  Freer Gallery 20: A Collector’s Eye: Freer in Egypt

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 0s, 100s

• Name

  Dattari, Giovanni, Freer, Charles Lang

• Place

  Egypt

• Topic

  Charles Lang Freer collection, Art, Mosaic glass, Bulls, Ptolemaic Dynasty (305 - 30 BCE), Ancient Egyptian Art, Flowers, Roman Period (30 BCE - 395 CE)

• Culture

  Egyptians

• Object Type

  Ornaments, Jewelry

• On View

  Yes