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Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A red paste glass intaglio depicting, on one side, a profile view of the head and shoulders of a soldier wearing a large, crested helmet. The Roman soldier’s helmet was known as the galea, and the helmet was commonly given a crest just like the one shown here, which was often made of horse hair. The crest not only served to intimidate, but also to distinguish different ranks and groups within the Roman military. This glass intaglio has a patina on its reverse that is encrusted with what appears to be an old textile, as if it lay on a piece of clothing for a long period of time. The back appears to be densely cross-hatched with incised lines. Size: 1.5″ W (3.8 cm)
Condition: Minute loss on surface on lower corner. Encrusted patina as shown, mainly on the back.
Provenance: private Orange County, California, USA collection
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