Ancient Roman Black Glass Beaded Necklace

£ 75.00

A fine restrung Ancient Roman black glass beaded necklace. The body of the necklace is comprised of small disc-shaped and cylindrical beads, between which three groups of three, larger spherical beads are interspersed on either side. A pendant is formed from a stack of three larger beads, the bottom features attractive white striations and a perforation through which the necklace is threaded. The piece has been finished with a modern gold-plated clasp. Please note that the clasp has not been professionally tied.

Half length: (circa) 24.6cm

Length below measures the necklace when unclasped.

Date: Circa 1st-3rd Century AD
Condition: Very fine. Minor wear and earthy encrustations consistent with age.

SOLD

SKU: KW-169 Category: Tag:

The mass production of glass in Ancient Rome prompted the development of glass jewellery. The ageing process of glass endows Roman glass jewellery with unique qualities. For instance, contaminants manufactured into the glass, exposed to the surrounding environment over thousands of years, result in beautiful lustres and speckling, where the glass might formerly have been transparent.

The ancient Romans considered jewellery to be an essential accessory, for it provided a public display of their wealth. Roman jewellery at first followed trends set by the Etruscans, using gold and glass beads, but as the power and spread of the Roman Empire increased, jewellery designs became increasingly elaborate. Different cultural styles from Greece, Egypt, North Africa, and the Orient were all incorporated to reflect Rome’s prosperity as a dominant, conquering city.

To find out more about Roman glass please see our relevant blog post: Ancient Glass

Weight 14.81 g
Dimensions L 44.1 cm
Culture

Region

Glass

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