Photographer: Vincent, Robert - UCLA Library Digital Collections Search Results

Description:: Located in the north-eastern corner of the villa, the motif of mosaic A2, executed in opus tessellatum technique, was one of the most popular ornaments found on Roman mosaic floors in Egypt. In this instance, the pattern was arranged with big tesserae of irregular shape and roughly cut. A coin of Hadrian’s reign was found under this floor. Project staff succeeded in uncovering the previously unexplored central fragment and north-western corner of this mosaic. Briefly, the state of the mosaic can be summarized with: tesserae loss along the borders, 15% of the original surface missing, small lacunae filled with cement in the 70s, distorted and sagged surface,and bedding mortar weakened. Some conservation measures included: mechanical/chemical cleaning of the surface; removal of cement infillings (70s intervention); reintegration of lacunae, reconstruction of edges; and stabilization of some areas.
Date:: May - July 1998
Resource Type:: still image
Photographer:: Brock, Edwin
Vincent, Robert
Collection:: Villa of the Birds Mosaic Conservation

Description:: The need to uncover surviving mosaics of the house alpha, as well as overall plan of the mosaic exhibition required the removal of both some of these low-surviving Late Roman walls and fragments reconstructed in the seventies
Date:: December 17, 1997
Resource Type:: still image
Photographer:: Vincent, Robert
Collection:: Villa of the Birds Mosaic Conservation

Description:: It should be assumed that most of the mosaics in house alpha could be dated to the first half of the second century AD. Mosaic A6 appears to be slightly earlier and may have been executed even at the very end of the 1st or beginning of the 2nd century AD. The original design of the emblem was altered in antiquity as a result of reparations. Out of the original hunting scene, only the panther remained alongside two little horns of a goat beside the left leg. This motif related to the Dionysiac mythology is a rare occurrence for Egyptian mosaic floors. The emblema was made in opus vermiculatum technique. Briefly, the state of the mosaic can be summarized with: 20% of the original surface is missing; tesserae losses along the edges; mosaic A7 was superimposed on its surface, amongst other distortions. Reinforcements, partial reconstructions, cleaning and other conservation measures were undertaken as necessary. For more details, refer to Progress Report 5 or the Final Report.
Date:: May 1999 - April 2000
Resource Type:: still image
Photographer:: Brock, Edwin
Vincent, Robert
Collection:: Villa of the Birds Mosaic Conservation

Description:: In order to protect the mosaics within their original context, a 15 x 12 m shelter was built to prevent damage from detrimental atmospheric factors, especially rainwater. The shelter protects the mosaic floors from direct sunshine (staving the risk of thermal expansion) and possible damage from visitors. As they are situated 1.5 m below ground level, a footbridge was constructed for viewers. There are no internal supports to conflict aesthetically with the remaining ancient ruins. The shelter's outer wall was designed to adjust to the existing walls of the Byzantine building. In places where the walls did not survive or were preserved in lower course, new walls made of security glass panels were introduced. For more details on the shelter design, refer to the Final Report or the Progress Reports.
Date:: May 1999 - April 2000
Resource Type:: still image
Photographer:: Brock, Edwin
Vincent, Robert
Dobrowolski, Jaroslaw
Collection:: Villa of the Birds Mosaic Conservation

Description:: Notably asymmetrical, the composition, executed in opus tessellatum technique, is situated in a room (possibly a cubiculum) between A2 and A6. Each of the seven preserved figural panels represents different species of bird (duck, heron, parrot, peacock, quail, pigeons and a couple of pigeons drinking water). Some of the panels have additional decorative elements (cups, flowers, fruits, and Floral motifs). Mosaic A5 suffered extensive damage; including burning; loss of 30% of its surface; and mechanical damages. Conservation measures included: documentation (photographs and tracing); cleaning; modern interventions reversed; lime mortar protective band on mosaic edges; weak tesserae were treated with Paraloid B-60 diluted in ethanol; some fragments were reconstructed using retrieved original material. After the reconstruction of the wall foundations, missing parts of the mosaic bedding and big lacunae were filled with new mortar and gravel. For more information, refer to the Final Report or Progress Report 5.
Date:: May - June, 1998
Resource Type:: still image
Photographer:: Brock, Edwin
Vincent, Robert
Collection:: Villa of the Birds Mosaic Conservation

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