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534.14. Face Bead

Accession Number 2003.259
Dimensions H. 1.4, max. Diam. 1.4 cm, Wt. 4.05 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 are probably dark green. 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 female busts with long hair and necklaces in a dark blue, square field. The additional plaques are three rosettes with eleven petals. At the center is a white circle (possibly a different color that has weathered into white) set in red, surrounded by eleven yellow petals, set in translucent purple. The flower shape is inscribed by a red ring with triangular projections in the interior covering the space between the petals. The whole motif is set in a translucent purple field.

Comments and Comparanda

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