Necklace of Roman Egyptian mosaic glass beads
€9,100
available
Object number
AR3420C
| Object: |
Necklace made of Roman Egyptian mosaic glass beads
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| Material: |
Beads made of blue glass and polychrome mosaic glass.
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| Period: |
1st cent. BC to 1st cent. AD. Roman Imperial period. |
| Description: |
Modernly assembled and threaded necklace made of ancient beads. 26 polychrome mosaic glass beads. These beads stand out visually due to their size and striking design. They are accompanied by 50 plain blue beads that serve as spacers for some of the mosaic glass beads. In total there are 76 beads. The location of manufacturing has not been passed down. But there is the convincing conjecture that such mosaic glass beads were made in workshops in Roman Egypt, possibly in Alexandria. |
| Dimensions: |
Approximately 49cm 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 or 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 86. The beads were previously purchased in the 1980ies.
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| References: |
For examples of mosaic glass beads cf. S. M. Goldstein, Pre-Roman and Early Roman Glass in The Corning Museum of Glass, p. 273, nos. 816 and 817, and also E. M. Stern, B. Schlick-Nolte, Early Glass of the Ancient World, Ernesto Wolf Collection, p. 410f, nos. 149 and 150. |
| 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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