Production technology for Roman mosaic glass vessels: new data from the domus of Tito Macro in Aquileia (Italy)

The present work focuses on five mosaic glass vessels from the domus of Tito Macro in Aquileia (northeastern Italy). The vessels were typogically attributed to three kinds of mosaic glass (marbled, striped mosaic, and composite mosaic patterns), all dated to the 1st century AD and obtained by the juxtaposition of translucent/transparent and opaque coloured glass pieces for a total of 25 analytical samples., They were texturally and chemically analysed by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS), and electron microprobe (EPMA). The results show that base glass, colourants and opacifiers are consistent with the early Roman glass-making tradition. Textural and chemical data suggest that the vessel makers acquired coloured rods and canes from different suppliers. There were no links between vessels and specific primary furnaces or amongst various colours of different vessels and similar colours in the same object, suggesting a complex production organisation, especially for composite canes, where the production of the single colour rods was probably separated from that of the canes. The effects of working processes on glass composition are also investigated