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LOT 0809
Roman Black Glass Bead Necklace String
1ST-4TH CENTURY A.D. AND LATER
18 7/8 in. (8.52 grams, 48 cm).
Composed of mainly oblate and annular beads; restrung. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom the London, UK, art market in the 1990s.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
For examples of similar black Roman beads see Then-Obluska, J., ‘Beads and pendants from the Hellenistic to early Byzantine Red Sea port of Berenike, Egypt, Seasons 2014 and 2015’ in Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean, 27/1, 2018, pp.203–234, figs. 7 (esp.8,10,11), 8 no.14, 10b no.55.
FootnotesIn the Roman period there was a strong formal and chromatic diversity of glass beads used for necklaces and bracelets. The most common beads in forms were small biconical (lenticular), barrel-shaped, spherical and annular; the most common colours were dark blue, followed by green and yellow. The succession of glass beads often imitates jewellery made of costly materials (gold, silver, semi-precious and precious stones). Green, blue-green, blue, yellow, and black drawn and rounded glass beads (like here) are late Roman types.
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AUCTIONS:
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Roman Red Jasper Gemstone with Mercury
2nd-3rd century A.D.Estimate: £300 - 400 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £150
Ellipsoid in plan with incuse figure of Mercury standing, holding out his coin-purse. 1.13 grams, 16 mm
From the Fadel family collection, London, UK, 1970s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Roman Bronze Vessel Handle with Face
1st century A.D.Estimate: £1,200 - 1,700 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £600
Swept in profile comprising a horizontal crescentic panel to attach to the rim, with inlaid silver detailing, recurved cobra-shaped thumb pad, raised serpent to the outer face of the tapering handle, finial a mask of Bacchus or Pan, facing with volute scrolls to the brow and thick splayed beard; silver diadem. 118 grams, 14.4 cm
Private collection. with Christie's, London, 11 June 1997, no.97 (part). with Bonhams, 13 April 2000, no.198. Private collection, Europe. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Roman Green Glass Bead Necklace String
1st-4th century A.D. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £52
Composed mainly of tubular and oblate beads, central feature with a facetted teardrop-shaped pendant; restrung. 17.3 grams, 45 cm
From the London, UK, art market in the 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
In the Roman period there was a strong formal and chromatic diversity of glass beads used for necklaces and bracelets. The most common beads in forms were small biconical (lenticular), barrel-shaped, spherical and annular; the most common colours were dark blue, followed by green and yellow. The succession of glass beads often imitates jewellery made of costly materials (gold, silver, semi-precious and precious stones).
