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LOT 0872
Roman Blue Glass Bead Necklace String
1ST-4TH CENTURY A.D. AND LATER
16 1/8 in. (11.96 grams, 41 cm).
Composed mainly of oblate and annular beads, restrung to a Y-shape. [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.
Cf. for similar necklaces in blue glass Johns, C., The Jewellery of Roman Britain, Celtic and Classical Traditions, London, 1996, p.100.
FootnotesSuch necklaces testify to the popularity of glass ornaments across the Roman Empire. Roman jewellery at first followed trends set by the Etruscans, using gold and glass beads, but with the extension of the Empire and the adoption of different styles from Greece, Egypt and North Africa, jewellery designs became increasingly various and elaborate. Each bead of this beautiful necklace is unique in shape, lustre and speckling, creating a mosaic like impression. Blue glass beads are distinguished by the scholars in opaque mid-blue and deep translucent cobalt blue.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
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Roman Miniature Glass Group
1st-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £111
Comprising: a blue ewer with applied trails to the body; slender vase with applied handle; two small bottoms of toilet bottles with trails in contrasting colours. 14 grams total, 18-30 mm
From the private collection of Mr K.A., acquired in the 1990s-early 2000s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Some fragments of this small group belong to the category of glass toilet bottles decorated with a single trail of glass dropped onto the bottom of a spike, drawn up, then wound around wall and lower neck. -
Large Late Roman Glass Lamp or Beaker
4th-5th century A.D.Estimate: £4,000 - 6,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £1,556
Conical body with pontil base, five horizontal grooves cut around the body; traces of iridescence. 293 grams, 18.5 cm
Dr Jutaro Kawabe, Nagoya, Japan, his collection formed in the 1960s-1970s. with Hoshigaoka Gallery until the late 1990s. Private collection, London, UK. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12830-241334. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Conical vessels of this form were either used as a lamp or a beaker; notably during late imperial period in the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire and in early Migration period. Deep cuts on this piece suggests they were used for suspension chains or ropes, making it highly likely that this example was used as a lamp. -
Roman Yellow Glass Bead Necklace String
1st-4th century A.D. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £72
Composed of graduated oblate, spherical and other beads, central feature with a large tabular lozenge-shaped bead, including recent European moulded bead shapes; restrung. 14.3 grams, 36.5 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).
