Hemispherical Bowl with Inlaid Nilotic Scene. Against a background of a dark, aubergine glass, a fantastic scene of a Nilotic landscape is presented in the form of colorful birds, a dragonfly, plants and flowers. The decorative elements are inlaid into the background glass. On the underside is an incised circle. The bowl was manufactured in multiple steps. The first step in the process of manufacturing this bowl was to shape a purple glass disk, into which the scenic elements were inlaid. The inlay technique could have been achieved in two ways. One scenario would have the scenic elements distributed across the surface of the disk, which was then carefully reheated and the elements pressed flat with a tool until they became embedded (inlaid) in the purple glass. In the second scenario, the scenic elements were laid out on a flat surface, and the heated purple disk was placed on top of them. The disk was then pressed onto the elements until they were submerged into the disk sufficiently. The decorated disk was then transferred to a sub-hemispherical slumping form to give it is present shape. It was carefully pushed over the form to better conform to it. After annealing, the bowl was finished by grinding and polishing.

Presented against a background of dark purple glass is a landscape scene showing the flora and fauna of the Nile River. Eight colorful birds and a dragonfly are displayed amid a variety of plant life, including the Nelumbo (lotus). Each of the birds is different from the others, and the plumage, beaks, and feet are carefully arranged in glass of different colors. Most easily identified is the flamingo on the left side of the bowl. This scene is characteristic of later Roman art, and similar Nilotic landscapes can be found on the floor mosaics and wall frescoes that decorated Roman houses. The bowl was constructed by first creating the glass disk that forms the background for the scene. The elements of the composition were arranged on the disk, and then heated and pressed down until they were embedded in the purple glass. The disk was then placed over a hemispherical form and slumped into its curved bowl shape. After annealing, the bowl was ground and polished.