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534.2. Face Bead

Accession Number 2003.259
Dimensions H. 1.2, max. Diam. 1.4 cm, Wt. 2.79 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 white glass. There is no base mass, and the back side of the mosaic sections is visible. In the thread hole, the bands appear to have been added onto the central band, which is dark colored. There are three Medusas, in a purple, rectangular outline. At the center of outline’s lower edge is a yellow square. The upper white coil is not perfectly closed. The additional plaques are banded rectangular elements. The one that is not deformed presents a succession of a green, a red, a yellow, a very thin red, and a yellow band.

Comments and Comparanda

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