Primary Description:
Medallion with Portrait. Colorless and translucent blue glass, gold, white paint; blown, gilded, enameled, cut. Colorless glass over translucent deep blue glass; glass elements probably case separately and at least partially ground and polished; gold leaf and pigment applied to upper surface of deep blue glass; colorless glass then placed over decorated surface and both elements heated until they fused; after annealing, upper surface of colorless glass and edges ground and polished as necessary. Circular, flat medallion decorated with bust of female, shown full face with hair combed back from forehead in series of waves and with thick eyebrows; wearing mantle over high chiton with nearly-vertical corrugations; in background, Latin inscription in capital letters consisting of two words, one on each side of figure: ANATOLI GAVDEAS (Anatolius, rejoice!); around border, but not in front of bust, which extends to edge of medallion, running scroll of ivy leaves.