Necklace of ancient eye beads
€2,450
available
Object number
AR3420E
| 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. 7 polychrome so-called eye beads. These beads stand out visually due to their size and striking design. Between them as spacers and towards the clasp are approximately 100 plain blue glass beads. In total there are approximately 107 beads. Their style indicates 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 immediately. |
| 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 45cm 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. One bead with a larger chip. 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 86. 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. 196, no. 40.
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| 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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