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Ancient Beads

Ancient Beads

Perhaps the oldest form of human art, beads are the first tangible evidence of emerging peoples able to think abstractly and utilize symbolism.  From the beginning, the shape, color, pattern, material or manufacturing skills invested ensured beads were used as powerful amulets, indispensable for propitiating the gods, personal protection, community status and personal adornment to enhance beauty.

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An Important Persian Eye Agate Pectoral, Parthian Period, ca. 1st century BCE - 1st century CEAn Important Persian Eye Agate Pectoral, Parthian Period, ca. 1st century BCE - 1st century CE
A lovely Roman/Egyptian Crystal and Chalcedony Necklace, ca. 2040 BCE - 1st century CEA lovely Roman/Egyptian Crystal and Chalcedony Necklace, ca. 2040 BCE - 1st century CE
A Greco-Roman Gold and Lapis Lazuli Necklace, ca. 1st century BCE – 2nd century CEA Greco-Roman Gold and Lapis Lazuli Necklace, ca. 1st century BCE – 2nd century CE
An Elegant Byzantine Gold, Quartz and Garnet Bead Necklace, ca. 9th century CEAn Elegant Byzantine Gold, Quartz and Garnet Bead Necklace, ca. 9th century CE
A superb Fatimid Double Horse Head Gold Pendant, ca. 11th - 13th century CEA superb Fatimid Double Horse Head Gold Pendant, ca. 11th - 13th century CE
A Western Asiatic Gold and Agate Bead Necklace, ca. 1st millennium BCEA Western Asiatic Gold and Agate Bead Necklace, ca. 1st millennium BCE
Roman Red Jasper Bead pendant, Roman Imperial Period, ca. 1st century CERoman Red Jasper Bead pendant, Roman Imperial Period, ca. 1st century CE
A fine Chinese Yungai Turquoise Bead, Qing Dynasty, ca. 18th–19th centuryA fine Chinese Yungai Turquoise Bead, Qing Dynasty, ca. 18th–19th century
A pair of Greco-Roman carnelian and gold drop earrings, ca. 1st century BCE - 1st century CEA pair of Greco-Roman carnelian and gold drop earrings, ca. 1st century BCE - 1st century CE
A pair of Egyptian Carnelian Poppy Beads set as Earrings, 18th Dynasty, Amarna Period, ca.  1364 - 1347 BCEA pair of Egyptian Carnelian Poppy Beads set as Earrings, 18th Dynasty, Amarna Period, ca.  1364 - 1347 BCE
An Egyptian Carnelian Poppy Bead Necklace, 18th Dynasty, Amarna Period, ca.  1364 - 1347 BCEAn Egyptian Carnelian Poppy Bead Necklace, 18th Dynasty, Amarna Period, ca.  1364 - 1347 BCE
A Western Asiatic Agate and Gold Bead Necklace, ca. 78 - 20 BCEA Western Asiatic Agate and Gold Bead Necklace, ca. 78 - 20 BCE
An Egyptian Faience Beadwork Mummy Mask, Late Period, ca. 664 - 332 BCEAn Egyptian Faience Beadwork Mummy Mask, Late Period, ca. 664 - 332 BCE
A Near Eastern Lapis Lazuli & Gold Bead Pendant, Middle Bronze Age, ca. 2150 - 2000 BCEA Near Eastern Lapis Lazuli & Gold Bead Pendant, Middle Bronze Age, ca. 2150 - 2000 BCE
A Neo-Babylonian Lapis, Carnelian, and Gold Necklace, Neo Babylonian Period, ca. 626 - 539 BCEA Neo-Babylonian Lapis, Carnelian, and Gold Necklace, Neo Babylonian Period, ca. 626 - 539 BCE
An Islamic Gold Bead Pendant, ca. 14th - 16th centuryAn Islamic Gold Bead Pendant, ca. 14th - 16th century
A fine Olmec Jade Bead Necklace, Pre-Classical Period, ca. 1100 - 400 BCEA fine Olmec Jade Bead Necklace, Pre-Classical Period, ca. 1100 - 400 BCE
A Roman Amethyst Bead Pendant, Roman Imperial Period, ca. 1st - 2nd century CE
A published Group of Millefiori, Mosaic and Eye Glass Beads, Roman Imperial Period, ca. 1st century BCE/CEA published Group of Millefiori, Mosaic and Eye Glass Beads, Roman Imperial Period, ca. 1st century BCE/CE
A Parthian Gold and Agate pendant, Parthian Empire, ca. 200 - 600 CEA Parthian Gold and Agate pendant, Parthian Empire, ca. 200 - 600 CE
A Pair of Roman garnet earrings, Roman Imperial, ca. 1st -  2nd century CEA Pair of Roman garnet earrings, Roman Imperial, ca. 1st -  2nd century CE
A rare Egyptian Glass Pomegranate Pendant, New Kingdom, Amarna Period , ca. 1353 - 1336 BCEA rare Egyptian Glass Pomegranate Pendant, New Kingdom, Amarna Period , ca. 1353 - 1336 BCE
A Greek Gold Bead Pendant, Hellenistic Period, ca. 3rd - 1st century BCEA Greek Gold Bead Pendant, Hellenistic Period, ca. 3rd - 1st century BCE
An Egyptian Faience Royal Name Bead for Shabaka,  ca. 705 - 690 BCEAn Egyptian Faience Royal Name Bead for Shabaka,  ca. 705 - 690 BCE
A superb Western Asiatic Gemstone Necklace, ca. 2nd millennium BCE - 1st century CEA superb Western Asiatic Gemstone Necklace, ca. 2nd millennium BCE - 1st century CE
A Sasanian Gold and Carnelian Pendant, ca. 5th century CEA Sasanian Gold and Carnelian Pendant, ca. 5th century CE
An Islamic Gold Pendant on Turquoise Bead Necklace<br><em>Seljuk Period, ca. 10th - 12th century CE</em>An Islamic Gold Pendant on Turquoise Bead Necklace<br><em>Seljuk Period, ca. 10th - 12th century CE</em>
An Islamic Gold, Garnet, and Turquoise Bead Necklace, Middle Islamic/Byzantine Period, ca. 8th - 9th century CEAn Islamic Gold, Garnet, and Turquoise Bead Necklace, Middle Islamic/Byzantine Period, ca. 8th - 9th century CE
A Banded Agate Seal of a Sasanian Ruler <br><em>ca. 3rd - 7th century CE</em>A Banded Agate Seal of a Sasanian Ruler <br><em>ca. 3rd - 7th century CE</em>
An Egyptian Electrum-Glass Bead depicting Harpokrates, Early Roman Imperial Period, ca. 50 BCE – 50 CEAn Egyptian Electrum-Glass Bead depicting Harpokrates, Early Roman Imperial Period, ca. 50 BCE – 50 CE
A Large Roman Glass Crumb Bead, Late Roman Imperial Period, ca. 3rd - 5th century CEA Large Roman Glass Crumb Bead, Late Roman Imperial Period, ca. 3rd - 5th century CE
An East Greek Gold and Amethyst Pendant, Hellenistic Period, ca. 3rd - 1st century BCEAn East Greek Gold and Amethyst Pendant, Hellenistic Period, ca. 3rd - 1st century BCE
A large Peruvian Crystal Drop Pendant, Chancay Period, ca. 1000 - 1470 BCEA large Peruvian Crystal Drop Pendant, Chancay Period, ca. 1000 - 1470 BCE

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