Description of this object or artwork
Mosiac floors and decorations were a statement of the wealth and importance of the owner, as many materials such as coloured stones or glass were rare and often expensive. The mosaic consists of a plaster background that has been covered with coloured squares, or tesserae, of glass and other materials including Egyptian blue, marble and other types of stone, bordered with shells.
The niche may have held a small statue and the mosaic would have provided an idyllic garden background with three birds coming to land and a colourful peacock already resting at the bottom. The presence of the peacock, an expensive bird and status symbol, indicates that the person who commissioned the mosaic was making a statement about his wealth and position.
Roman mosaic niche
Baie, Italy
AD 50-70
Look
Set a timer for 1 minute and look really carefully.
When the time is up, look away and make a list of what shapes, colours and details can you remember.
Now have another look and check you anwers!
Think
This beautiful mosaic niche once decorated a Roman villa in Baiae, near Naples in Italy.
It dates back to between AD50-70.
Can you find this date on our timeline?
What was happening in Britain at this time?
Do
Roman mosaics were made of thousands of tiny coloured stones and gems. Each one was individually laid by hand into wet plaster.
Watch our video and make your own mosaic.
Collections record
GR.159.1910
Collection record: 68584
