Ancient Roman Mediterranean Glass Bead Strand

Pricing & History

Sold for
Start Free Trial or Sign In to see what it's worth.
Sold Date
Source eBay

Ancient Roman Mediterranean Glass Bead Strand Album Album Album 60 0026 Rare Roman Mediterranean Glass Bead Strand ~ 200 BC âe" 400 AD / sourced in Afghanistan Type of beads : genuine ancient Roman glass beads Origin : from Mediterranean or Middle Eastern productions; sourced in Afghanistan Age : assorted from circa 200 BC âe" 400 AD Weight : Vary from strand to strand to approx. 11.5 grams to 24 grams Size of beads : Vary from strand to strand from ca. 2 mm to 15.5 mm diameter Length of strand Perforation / hole : : 40 cm = 15.75 inches Assorted from 1 mm to 1.5 mm Condition : Excellent with ancient wear! T are no damages and no repairs. The age-acquired patina is untouched and original. Expected corrosion, minor chipping and surface wear are a consequence of age and extended burial. These beads are strung temporarily. The string used is new. History : Glass making was invented more than 2,000 years before the Roman Empire The terms "Roman" or "Roman-period" glass are used to describe glass production from 100 BC to AD 400 within the boundaries of the Roman Empire . Since approximately 1500 BC colored Roman Glass was made in Egypt , Palestine and Syria (Mesopotamian Empire). With the growing Roman Empire also the glass blowing techniques spread. With the invention of the blowing pipe technique glass making was completely modernized and glass was able to be shaped freely by hand. Under the reign of the first Emperor Augustus (1 st century BC) glass making became an industry in the Roman Empire . Roman glass was made by using sand, alkali, sodium carbonate, coloring agents (metals) and was formed with burning seaweed and lime. Roman glass was produced in a large range of colors, patterns and frequently complex techniques. Metals were also used to make many colorful variations. Copper was used to make turquoise to light blue, green, red or opaque red colored glass. Some addition of cobalt made the glass dark blue. Yellowish and purple glass was created by the use of manganese and antimony to make the glass opaque yellow or opaque white. Also iron was used to make a light blue, green, brown and black color. Iridescence and opalescence on many ancient glass pieces is caused by the chemical decomposition of glass, the consequence of extended burial and the humidity and acid in the soil. HISTORY of Glass Beads When glass first became widespread as a new medium available to craftsmen in ancient times, around 1550 BC, it was a luxury item used either as an âeoeersatzâe for semiprecious stones, or as an analog to stone offering new and exciting colors unavailable in natural stone. Since one of the established uses for semiprecious stones was to manufacture ornamental beads, glass bead making was a natural evolution of existing traditions.The first glass beads of the Bronze Age were, like most precious stones, monochrome. Soon, they became bichrome with the addition of âeoetrailedâe decoration. But as the period of prosperity of the second millennium came to an end, and the market for luxury goods dried up, the whole glass industry stalled for hundreds of years. With improving general conditions, glass work shops reopened, and with the 9 th century BC came a new distinctive type of beads. The 8 th and 7 th century BC saw an important paradigm shift from opaque, stone-like, glass to considerable experimentation with the translucence of glass. It is during the 6th century BC, which saw a marked expansion in glass production in general, that more technically complex beads such as âeoestratified eye beadsâe became frequent. One gets a sense that glass work... read more

Items in the Price Guide are obtained exclusively from licensors and partners solely for our members’ research needs.

Flag item for content or copyright

If this item contains incorrect or inappropriate information please contact us here to flag it for review.

If you are the originator/copyright holder of this photo/item and would prefer it be excluded from our community, contact us here for removal.