An Egyptian Millefiori and Mosaic Glass Beads, Roman Imperial Period, ca. 1st century BCE/CE
An Egyptian Millefiori and Mosaic Glass Beads, Roman Imperial Period, ca. 1st century BCE/CE
An Egyptian Millefiori and Mosaic Glass Beads, Roman Imperial Period, ca. 1st century BCE/CE
An Egyptian Millefiori and Mosaic Glass Beads, Roman Imperial Period, ca. 1st century BCE/CE
An Egyptian Millefiori and Mosaic Glass Beads, Roman Imperial Period, ca. 1st century BCE/CE
An Egyptian Millefiori and Mosaic Glass Beads, Roman Imperial Period, ca. 1st century BCE/CE

An Egyptian Millefiori and Mosaic Glass Beads, Roman Imperial Period, ca. 1st century BCE/CE

EJ2130

Regular price12,000 USD
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  • This object qualifies for free USA shipping and a flat rate fee of $60 if shipping internationally.

Featuring eight different multicolor glass millefiori tubular beads, all having various stylized floral designs with solid color borders and strung as a necklace with seven ovoid eye beads flanked by seventeen Tahitian baroque pearls.

Background: Translated to "A thousand flowers" in Italian, it refers to most common floral design patterns; millefiori beads (a mosaic glass), were made in ancient times and had numerous sections of patterned canes placed in close proximity parrallel to one another, and heated to fuse together. The pad of millefiori glass was then rolled upon itself and shaped to form a bead. When Italians reinvented millefiori glass, they usually applied cane pieces to a separate base, often the beads core, and fused the parts together; this is one way ancient beads may be distinguished.

Tubular beads published: I. Grimm-Stadelmann (ed.), Aesthetic Glimpses, Masterpieces of Ancient Egyptian Art, The Resandro Collection, Munich, 2012, p. 239, no. R-789.

Medium: Glass, pearls

Dimensions: Length: 18 inches (45.7 cm)

Condition:  One tubular glass bead has been repaired from two original pieces with some loss along the break line, the balance are intact and in excellent condition overall. The necklace was been restrung with modern 8-10mm Tahitian baroque pearls.

Provenance:  Tubular beads: The Alfred Wolkenberg Collection of Ancient Glass, Christies, London, 9 July 1991, lot 130, thereafter Resandro collection, Germany, acquired from the above sale, thereafter Christies, London, 12/5/2017, sale 14231, lot # 110.

Sands of Time provides a lifetime, unconditional guarantee of authenticity and provenance. Every object you purchase from us is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity, stating culture, provenance, and age.

Furthermore, we conduct due diligence to ensure the item, to the best of our knowledge, has not been illegally obtained from an excavation, architectural monument, public institution, or private property. Wherever possible, reference is made to existing collections or publications.Wherever possible, reference is made to existing collections or publications.

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