Necklace of ancient eye beads
€6,000
available
Object number
AR3420A
Object: |
Necklace made of ancient eye beads
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Material: |
Beads made of blue and polychrome opaque glass.
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Period: |
The eye beads from the 6th cent. BC to 1st cent. BC. The blue beads circa from the 1st cent. BC to 1st cent. AD. |
Description: |
Modernly assembled and threaded necklace made of ancient beads. 40 white-ground so-called eye beads with blue decorations, some of them with additional yellow and red decorations. These beads stand out visually due to their size and striking design. Between them there are 42 plain blue beads that serve as spacers. In total there are 82 beads. The bead types indicate a production in the Eastern Mediterranean. The beads are modernly threaded onto a wire with a gold-coloured metal clasp. The necklace can be worn directly. |
Background: |
Eye beads were popular in the ancient Mediterranean. Beads of this type are known as eye beads because archaeologists interpret the decorations as a highly stylized face. The circles are the eyes. The beads thus fulfilled a protective function against the "evil eye" (see E. M. Stern, B. Schlick-Nolte, Early Glass of the Ancient World, p. 195).
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Dimensions: |
Approximately 50cm length of the entire chain. The largest bead approx. 1.5cm in diameter.
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Condition: |
Very good condition. The ancient beads are usually complete and intact, although minor chips are possible. A few beads with larger chips, at least one bead professionally restored from fragments. The beads are modernly threaded onto a wire and have a gold-coloured metal clasp. The chain can be worn immediately as a necklace.
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Provenance: |
Acquired by us on the British art market in 2022. Previously in a British private collection. Acquired into it at Christie's London auction 30 April 2008, lot 87. The beads were previously purchased in the 1980ies.
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References: |
Cf. E. M. Stern, B. Schlick-Nolte, Early Glass of the Ancient World, pp. 198, no. 41. Cf. L. Sherr Dubin, The History of Beads, pp. 328, no. 322. |
Literature: |
For an overview on ancient and antique beads we recommend L. Sherr Dubin, The History of Beads.
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Authenticity: |
We unconditionally guarantee the authenticity of every artefact, all items are subject to our lifetime return policy on authenticity.
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