A Phoenician Yellow Glass Face Pendant, ca. 3rd - 1st century BCE

Mold-formed, the tiny glass pendant features a face with protruding nose and wide mouth. Similar examples also feature twisted headbands with hair curls over each ear. Such pendants were made across the Levant.

Note: From the Israeli Museum: “small head pendants, some possible late Hellenistic date (3rd C BCE). They differ not only stylistically but also technically from the others (listed), as the faces were mold-formed with subsequent applied colored features.” From the BM, “Phoenician face is a core-formed pendant in the form of a female head. There were twisted headbands and with haircurls over each ear. Circa 300-200. Made across the Levant.”

Reference: Oppenlander 225, Metropolitan Museum, Harmon Gallery, #7 (74.51.4029), Spaer 314. Lengthy description on pages 158-160, Early Glass of the Ancient World 34, Borowski P-39 & P-40 (pg 201), Constable-Maxwell 188, Cyprus Cesnola Collection 328, Christie’s Per-Neb sale III #155 for necklace of faces, Louvre 3 #17-19, Tout Feu Tout Sable 39.1-5 indicating all five were excavated and dated to 150-140 BCE, Harden British Museum 427-29 & 432-33, Cesnola 475.

Condition: Missing the applied features, hair, and suspension loop.

Dimensions: Height: 1.2 cm (0.47 inch)

Provenance: Private Washington DC collection, acquired from the London trade in 1999.