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534.13. Face Bead

Accession Number 2003.259
Dimensions H. 1.4, max. Diam. 1.3 cm, Wt. 4.10 g
Date First century CE
Production Area Eastern Mediterranean, probably Egypt
Modeling Technique and Decoration Wound around a mandrel and inlaid with sections of mosaic composite canes

Condition

Intact

Description

The upper and lower parts of the bead are made of red glass. There is no base mass, and the back side of the mosaic sections is visible, onto which the two bands are applied. There are three Medusas in a fine white circle set in a dark blue square frame. The additional plaques are three squares filled with four triangular elements facing toward the center: two yellow facing each other and one red and one green facing each other.

Comments and Comparanda

On mosaic face beads, see comments on cat. 534 and 535. For provenance, bibliography, and exhibitions, see group entry, cat. 534.