Italian Sea Creature Roman Mosaic Florentine Wall Panel

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This is an exquisite rendition of a marine fauna and sea creature mosaic originally found in Pompeii, Italy, dating back … Read more This is an exquisite rendition of a marine fauna and sea creature mosaic originally found in Pompeii, Italy, dating back to the 2nd century B.C. It retains its original branding sticker from the 1950s-60s in Italy and is in lovely condition, framed with a gold trim. This piece is both stunning and rare.

**Subject Information**
The House of the Faun, built during the 2nd century B.C., was one of the largest and most impressive private residences in Pompeii, Italy, housing many significant pieces of art. It is known as one of the most luxurious aristocratic houses from the Roman Republic, providing a better reflection of this period than most archaeological findings in Rome itself.

The marine fauna mosaic from the House of the Faun depicts over twenty forms of fish, shellfish, and eels. At the center, an octopus is depicted attacking a lobster, surrounded by dogfish, morays, sea bass, sea bream, mullets, and electric rays. Roman mosaics are made from geometric blocks called tesserae, which are arranged to create figures, motifs, and patterns. The tesserae were sourced from local natural stone, with additional materials like cut brick, tile, and pottery used to create a variety of colors, predominantly featuring shades of blue, black, red, white, and yellow. While polychrome patterns were the most common, monochrome examples can also be found. This magnificent mosaic is currently displayed in the Archaeological Museum of Naples, Italy. See less