CULTURE / REGION OF ORIGIN:  Roman Empire, probably from Roman 
                                                                     Syria/Palestine

DATE:  4th – 5th Century CE

DIMENSIONS: Largest bead 3 cm (1.2 in.)

DESCRIPTION: A string of 120 late Roman glass beads in various sizes, styles and colors, including ring, tubular, spherical and polygonal beads in light and dark blue, light and dark green, amber, yellow, brown and black. Most are complete and undamaged, some with iridescence, minor encrustation or surface weathering.  A beautiful example of late Roman glass beadwork.

PROVENANCE: Ex Bonhams antiquities sale, 13 October, 2006, London, Sale # 14355, Lot # 274. Formerly the property of a private London owner inherited from her father who used to own an antique shop in London in the mid 70s-80s. Also, Christie’s antiquities sale of October 30, 1989, Lot 45. The old Christies tag still attached.

PUBLISHED: Bonhams auction catalogue, ANTIQUITIES, 13 October, 2006, London, Sale # 14355, Lot # 274, illustrated in color page 116.

COMPARISON'S: Ancient Glass from the Holy Land, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and Israel Antiquities Authority, 1998, pages 1-3 for photos of the same types of beads found at Roman Castra, near Haifa.