Glass mosaic face bead

Unknown

1st century CE · Glass · Greek and Roman Art

Uncertain color, appearing black, and opaque white; details in opaque white and red, and translucent blue and deep purple, appearing black. Spherical with vertical large hole. Around center of bead, four mosaic sections arranged horizontally in a band, each showing the same female face framed by black and white striped hair, with almond-shaped eyes, eyebrows, nose, and slit mouth with red lips; the faces are enclosed in a narrow white circle set on a blue ground. Intact; slight pitting, weathering, and iridescence.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1st century CE

Medium

Glass

Culture

Roman, Egyptian

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1952