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.