540. Bead

Condition

The bead shows signs of weathering and some discoloration. A crack runs down one side and there are a few abrasions.

Description

Spherical bead. The central zone of the bead is decorated with a continuous frieze of two rows of adjoining lozenges, currently appearing white, bordering a central row of red lozenges, all flanked above and below by greenish triangles. All these motifs are outlined with a fine layer of glass, appearing black. Two dark blue bands form the upper and lower parts around the openings of the hole.

Comments and Comparanda

On mosaic beads and in particular on beads with female faces and busts, see cat. 534. On mosaic beads with checkerboard motifs, see cat. 537.

Provenance

Pierre Mavrogordato, Greek, 1870–1948 (Berlin, Germany); by 1974–1988, Erwin Oppenländer, 1901–1988 (Waiblingen, Germany), by inheritance to his son, Gert Oppenländer, 1988; 1988–2003, Gert Oppenländer (Waiblingen, Germany), sold to the J. Paul Getty Museum, 2003

Bibliography

von Saldern et al. 1974, p. 84, no. 237.

Exhibitions

Gläser der Antike: Sammlung Erwin Oppenländer (Hamburg and Cologne, 1974–1975)