Glass mosaic face bead

Unknown

1st century CE · Glass · Greek and Roman Art

Opaque red ground, with details in opaque yellow, white, red, and grayish green, and translucent purple, appearing black. Section of an irregular oval mosaic composite bar; flat with rough edges; hole diagonally through bead. Circular face, distorted on one side; hair rendered as alternating vertical black and white stripes on forehead; almond-shaped eyes, eyebrows, nose, and round mouth with red lips; green stripe around chin. Intact; slight dulling and pitting. The faces on these flat beads are so small and indistinguishable that it is impossible to tell if they are meant to be men, women, children, or masks.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1st century CE

Medium

Glass

Culture

Roman, Eastern Mediterranean

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1952