Romano-Egyptian Glass Bead with Faces

Object Description

A Romano-Egyptian spherical bead made from polychromatic glass. The bead features a red matrix, interspersed with a dark blue band. Within this band are four faces, their delicate faces made from white glass and facial features defined in black. Each face is surrounded by a white roundel. The bead is pierced vertically for suspension. It is believed that the faces depict the mythological Gorgon; the undulating black lines of her hair representing the unruly snakes that framed her face.

Date: Circa 1st century BC – 1st century AD

Object History

Acquired 1969-1999. London collection of the late S.M., thence by descent.

Object Condition

Very fine. Some loss of colour to the blue band. Beads of this high quality are exceptionally rare.

Object Details