Details

LOT 1132

Western Asiatic Mixed Stone and Glass Necklace Bead Collection

1ST MILLENNIUM B.C. AND LATER

1/8 - 5/8 in. (78.4 grams total, 2-14 mm).

Comprising a large quantity of variously shaped beads in lapis lazuli, red jasper, rock crystal, glass and other materials.

Provenance

UK gallery, early 2000s.

Literature

Cf. Francis, P. Jr., ‘Glass Beads in Asia. Part I. Introduction’ in Asian Perspectives ol. 28, no. 1, 1990, University of Hawaii Press, pp.1-21, pl.I, for similar.

Footnotes

Glass is the premier bead material. Invented in the Middle East around 2500 B. C., glass making spread slowly. There are mainly two types of beads, drawn beads (when the tubes are cut in a short segments, which are usually agitated over heat to smooth off the sharp edges) or wound beads (made by wrapping molten glass around a rock, stick or wire. Once the bead is built up, it can be further pressed or paddled into shape, placed in a mould, or decorated with other colours of glass.