Ancient Roman Turquoise Glass and Faience Beaded Necklace

£ 75.00

A fine restrung Ancient Roman necklace formed from glass beads of vibrant blue and turquoise. The body of the necklace is comprised of small disc-shaped, spherical or cylindrical beads, gradually increasing in size towards the centre. From midway down, eight larger beads of unique shapes and colourations are evenly interspersed. The necklace reaches a centrepiece of four larger stacked beads. The top three beads are formed from faience and feature a melon-shape, a convex dish with grooves resembling a flower and a wide hoop bead. A flat triangular turquoise bead caps the pendant. Such necklaces testify to the popularity of glass ornaments across the Roman Empire. The necklace is finished with a silver clasp (please be aware the clasp has not been professionally tied).

Half length: 26.8cm

Date: Circa 1st-3rd Century AD
Condition: Very good. Minor wear and encrustations to the beads consistent with age.

SOLD

SKU: KW-103 Category: Tags: ,

In Ancient Roman society, jewellery was an essential accessory, providing the wearer with a public display of their wealth, social status, and identity. Gold and silver pieces were worn by the wealthier members of Roman society, while bronze and other metals provided a cheaper alternative for lower social classes. Roman jewellery at first followed the trends set by the Etruscans, employing the use of gold and glass beads. As the power and spread of the Roman Empire increased, jewellery designs became increasingly elaborate. Many different materials, techniques, and styles were utilised, found across the expanding empire, particularly from Greece, Egypt, North Africa, and the Orient. Archaeological finds of Roman jewellery are relatively rare, considering the magnitude of Roman civilisation and the historical and geographical span of the Empire.

The mass production of glass in Ancient Rome prompted the development of glass jewellery. Core-formed and cast-vessels were first produced in Egypt and Mesopotamia, but only started being imported around 500 BC. However, the Roman glass industry developed to full maturity during the first half of the first century. This was likely due to Rome’s emergence as a political and economic strength in the Mediterranean world which attracted skills artisans to the city, but also coincided with the invention of glassblowing.

Weight 17.65 g
Dimensions L 47.2 cm
Culture

Faience

Glass

Region

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