Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid. A collection of ± 100 authentic Roman glass beads in a wide range of colours, including deep cobalt blue, turquoise, pale green, olive, yellow, amber and earthy tones. The group displays considerable variation in size, shape and manufacture. Many beads retain their original irregular forms, reflecting hand production and everyday use in antiquity. The diversity of colours and textures creates a visually rich assemblage, representative of Roman glass bead production. Sizes vary from very small personal adornment beads to larger statement pieces, illustrating the broad stylistic range used across ancient cultures. Together they form an attractive study collection suitable for jewellery reconstruction, display, or educational reference. Diameter: ± 2,4 - 10,1 mm Good condition, visible signs of wear consistent with age and use. See images for own impression. Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format) for sale price of € 100 or more. Every ancient bead shows subtle variations and signs of age, reflecting its history and adding to the unique charm of ancient glass beads. ANCIENT GLASS Glass has always been found in nature, but the humans first created glass about 4.000 years ago. when ancient craftsmen in Mesopotamia discovered the art of mixing sand, soda and lime to make glass. For centuries, glass was a luxury item and reserved for the upper classes. Glassmaking centers around the Mediterranean world experimented with new techniques (casting, core-forming, mosaic glass) and with colours by adding metallic oxides (cobalt, copper, etc) to the mixture. The Romans learned the glass-making craft after the conquest of Egypt in the 1st century BC. During the 1st century AD the glassblowing technique revolutionized the production and made it possible to produce larger quantities. By adding manganese dioxide Roman glassmakers successfully produced colourless or ‘aqua’ glass for the first time. Roman glass became a very popular material, used for beads, glass windows, mosaic tiles, tableware pieces etc. Roman glass was traded all over the Roman Empire and far beyond to Central Africa, Scandinavia and via the Silk Route to China. ANCIENT GLASS Glass has always been found in nature, but the humans first created glass about 4.000 years ago. when ancient craftsmen in Mesopotamia discovered the art of mixing sand, soda and lime to make glass. For centuries, glass was a luxury item and reserved for the upper classes. Glassmaking centers around the Mediterranean world experimented with new techniques (casting, core-forming, mosaic glass) and with colours by adding metallic oxides (cobalt, copper, etc) to the mixture. The Romans learned the glass-making craft after the conquest of Egypt in the 1st century BC. During the 1st century AD the glassblowing technique revolutionized the production and made it possible to produce larger quantities. By adding manganese dioxide Roman glassmakers successfully produced colourless or ‘aqua’ glass for the first time. Roman glass became a very popular material, used for beads, glass windows, mosaic tiles, tableware pieces etc. Roman glass was traded all over the Roman Empire and far beyond to Central Africa, Scandinavia and via the Silk Route to China.