The Portland Vase (Object in Focus)

In a new series of books that focus on iconic objects housed in the British Museum; this guide addresses the enigmatic Portland Vase. This cameo glass vessel; with its engraved scenes of love and marriage; most probably made during the reign of Augustus; is a controversial piece with little concensus on its origins; date; how it was made; its purpose; the nature of the scenes depicted and the circumstances of its discovery. All this is covered in this book which also includes lots of detailed colour photographs of the vase.

Susan Walker is Keeper of Antiquities at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.