Description:

Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean, Phoenician and Roman through early Islamic periods, ca. 400 BCE to 900 CE. A collection of thirty six large glass beads and forty six small blue glass beads, all ancient, on a modern string with a modern clasp, creating a unique, wearable necklace. Six of the larger beads are eye beads, one of the most popular types of decorated glass bead in the ancient world, frequently found in Phoenician contexts. Nearly all of the other larger beads are millefiori, an ancient beading technique that was revived centuries later in Renaissance Venice. To make millefiori beads, artisans produce glass canes or rods, called murrine, by layering different-colored glass around a core. At this stage, their multicolored patterns are only visible from the cut ends of the cane. The rods are heated in a furnace and stretched until thin, then cut into beads. Altogether these beads create a wonderful example of wearable art! Size of largest bead: 0.85" W (2.2 cm); length of strand: 20" L (50.8 cm)

Provenance: ex-private New York, USA collection, acquired in the 1970s

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#138096

  • Condition: All beads have light scratches/chips as age commensurate signs of wear. All beads are ancient beads. Modern string and clasp.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

January 10, 2019 7:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 24.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000