Emblēma
（
ἔμβλημα),
Emblemăta.
1.
Emblemata were metal ornaments, such as masks, busts, medallions, figures of men and
animals, wrought in relief and artificially attached by soldering or riveting to the interior
or exterior of metal bowls, vases, cups, etc. (
in Verr. iv. 22). Such
ornaments were sometimes made of gold and silver, and had an artistic and pecuniary value
even when detached from the objects to which they belonged. Thus, the plunderer Verres took
especial care to wrench off emblemata from vases and cups. Emblemata must be distinguished
from metal ornaments in relief (such as those produced in repoussé), which formed
an integral part of the vase itself: the essence of the emblema was that it could be
detached, if necessary, from the vase which it ornamented. Many of the metal masks, figures,
dishes, etc., in modern museums are doubtless emblemata which have been broken off from
vases.
Crustae were metal vase-ornaments similar to emblemata. The
crustae were made by artisans called
crustarii.
2.
The word
emblema is also used to signify inlaid work (
Cic. Brut. 79). This usage is, however, rare; and as
a general rule when the words
emblema, emblemata occur in the ancient
authors and in modern archæological treatises, the metal ornaments described above
are designated. See
Caelatura.
