Rare Egyptian Red Glass Torso Inlay

Ptolemaic Period 305-30 B.C. Upper half of a torso of a king rendered in a typical frontal profile fashion with right arm raised and belly button delineated off to the side. Deep scoop where collor necklace would be separately inset. Done in deep red opaque glass. Mounted in a modern gold filled rope banded setting with two suspension loop holes behind to be worn as a pendant. Size 1 inch H. x 1-1/4 inches W.; Intact; Ex Harry Wallace Collection, NY and New Paltz NY.Glass inlays like this were used to decorate shrines or cartonnage. When forming part of the decoration for cartonnage, they were pressed directly into the outer coat of plaster while it was still wet. This inlay probably formed part of the decorative pattern of a box, a piece of furniture, or an item of funerary equipment. The bright color not only enhanced the appearance of the object but had symbolic significance as well.