Bone Carving of a Dionysiac Revel in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, January 2011

Bone Carving, Possibly of a Dionysiac Revel

Date: 300–500

Geography: Made in, Egypt

Culture: Byzantine

Medium: Ivory

Dimensions: Overall: 3 7/8 x 2 3/8 x 13/16 in. (9.8 x 6 x 2 cm)

Classification: Ivories

Credit Line: Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917

Accession Number: 17.190.74

Description:

Bone plaques were used to decorate couches, chests, and other furniture. Some were carved in relief; others were carved in intaglio with the incised designs often filled with colored wax. Both styles could be used on the same object. The designs frequently represent Dionysiac themes.

Text from: www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/1700...