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Square mosaic depicting a large two-handled vase with two doves perched on its rim and flanked by two large peacocks, rendered in tiles of muted colors against a white background.

Mosaic Fragment with Peacocks

Gallery Location

Not currently on view

Currently unknown artist or artists

Visual symbols are anything but static—they evolve. Over time, people reinterpret and repurpose them in new contexts, and their meanings shift. Take, for instance, the peacocks, other birds, and vessel adorning this mosaic fragment. Early Christian artists adapted these symbols, borrowed from ancient Greek and Roman polytheism, to symbolize the Christian concept of paradise. At the center of this fragment is a vase, either an amphora (typically used to store goods like grain or wine) or a kantharos (a large drinking cup associated with Dionysus, the Greek god of wine). In a Christian context, the vessel took on new meaning, symbolizing the water of baptism or the wine of the Eucharist. This mosaic once adorned the floor of a building, likely in a region of what is now western Syria near the Mediterranean Sea. In style and composition, it resembles other mosaics from the mid-400s CE found in that area. Unfortunately, without archaeological evidence pinpointing its original location, we cannot say for certain what kind of building it decorated. However, similar designs were popular in Christian tombs and churches.
Artist/Maker
Currently unknown artist or artists
(Roman)
Title
Mosaic Fragment with Peacocks
Date
Mid-5th century CE
Material & Process
Polychrome marble tesserae
Dimensions
48 1/2 x 43 1/2 in. Overall
Credit
Gift of Jonathan Morse
Inventory No.
1972.19
Classification
Architectural Decoration
Location
Syria

Related

Said to be from Homs (ancient Emesa), Syria. Between 1971 and May 1972, sold by Peter Marks Fine Art (New York, NY) to Jonathan Morse (New York, NY); November 1972, gifted by Jonathan Morse (New York, NY) to Elvehjem Art Center [now called Chazen Museum of Art]. [Last researched by Chazen staff January 2023]

This square mosaic is composed of small, colored tiles arranged in a symmetrical design depicting a large vase and four birds. At the center is a large, two-handled vase rendered in shades of brown, beige, and grey. The vessel features a wide, oval mouth, a tapered neck, and a bulbous body that narrows into a small foot. Two curving handles connect the rim to the body, which is embellished with a horizontal grey and white band and vertical, petal-like fluting in reddish-brown and grey. Flanking the vase are two peacocks, each as tall as the vase and shown in profile. Their bodies, legs, and feet face outward, while their heads turn inward toward each other. Each bird has a small grey crest and a long, curved, slender neck. Their bodies are colored in mottled grey and olive green, outlined in dark grey. Their long tail feathers sweep downward, following the contours of the vase, and feature distinct circular “eye” patterns in beige, reddish-brown, and dark grey. Two smaller birds, resembling doves, perch on the vase’s rim, facing inward. Their stout bodies are rendered in grey and beige with tail feathers curved upward. The background is filled with plain white tiles, contrasting with the earthy tones of the vase and birds. The composition is enclosed within a narrow border of darker tiles, while a partial geometric border in dark red and white is visible along the top edge. Small horizontal and diagonal cracks are visible on the left side, and the edges are irregular with missing tiles, indicating age and wear.

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Information about artworks presented here may not reflect the most current research. Chazen staff update records as new details emerge; please verify independently for scholarly use and notify us of any errors.