Roman & Sassanian Mosaic Glass Bead Strand

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Roman & Sassanian Mosaic Glass Bead Strand Album Album Album Agustus-Collection Extremely Rare Ancient Roman & Sassanian Mosaic Glass Bead Strand ca. 1 st Â- 7 th Cent. AD ~ sourced in Afghanistan Item #: 40 1921 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Type of beads : Genuine ancient Roman & Sassanian mosaic glass beads (late Roman to early Islamic period) Origin : Roman & Sassanian / possibly middle eastern production / sourced in Afghanistan Age : ca 1 st Â- 7 th Cent. AD Weight : ca. 12.6 grams Size of beads : Assorted from ca. 3 mm to 8 mm diameter Length of strand : Approx. 47 cm = 18.5 inches Condition : Excellent! T are no damages and no repairs. The age-acquired patina is untouched and original. Expected corrosion and surface wear are a consequence of age and extended burial. History : Sassanid Empire or Sassanian Dynasty (226 AD Â- 651 AD) The Sassanid era, encompassing the length of the Late Antiquity period, is considered to be one of the most important and influential historical periods in the area. In many ways the Sassanid period witnessed the highest achievement civilization, and constituted the last before the Muslim conquest and adoption of Islam. Romans influenced this civilization considerably during the SassanidÂ's times, and the Romans reserved for the SassanidÂ's alone the status of equals. Their cultural influence extended far beyond the empire's territorial borders, reaching as far as Western Europe, Africa, China and India and played a prominent role in the formation of both European and Asiatic medieval art. This influence carried forward to the early Islamic world. 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 Â"ersatzÂ" 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 natu... read more

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