Ancient Roman Light Blue Glass Beaded Necklace

£ 75.00

An Ancient Roman restrung necklace comprised of glass beads in shades of light blue and turquoise. Ellipsoid beads increase gradually towards the centre. The necklace is enriched with a pendant formation of five bigger beads, including a square bead carved with four circles. The piece is finished with a gold-plated clasp (please be aware that the clasp has not been professionally tied).

Date: Circa 1st - 3rd Century AD
Condition: Excellent condition, necklace has been restrung. Half length 26.5cm

SOLD

SKU: SK-111 Category: Tags: ,

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 posts: Ancient Glass and Collecting Roman Glass.

Weight 13.59 g
Dimensions L 46.7 cm
Culture

Glass

Region