LARGE Ancient Roman Colourful Glass Bead — circa 100 B.C.–2nd century C.E. Weight: approx. 8.5 g Size: approx. 2.5 cm A large and visually striking ancient Roman glass bead dating to approximately the late 1st century B.C. through the 2nd century C.E., spanning the transition from the late Roman Republic into the Early Roman Empire. The bead is formed from dark, almost black glass and decorated with numerous irregularly arranged fragments and spots of vivid yellow, orange-red, pale blue, greenish and white glass. The contrasting colours create a lively mosaic-like surface, making this an especially decorative example of ancient Roman glasswork. Its substantial size of approximately 2.5 cm and weight of 8.5 g make it considerably larger than many standard Roman beads. A broad central perforation runs through the bead, originally allowing it to be strung as part of a necklace or other personal ornament. Roman glassworkers were highly skilled in combining differently coloured glasses to create beads with complex decorative surfaces. Such beads circulated widely throughout the Roman world through extensive commercial networks and were worn both as jewellery and personal adornment. The surface displays natural wear, weathering and areas of iridescent mineralisation consistent with considerable age and prolonged burial. Now mounted on a modern black cord, the bead can be worn as a distinctive pendant while preserving its ancient character. Period: Late Roman Republic / Early Roman Empire Date: circa 100 B.C.–2nd century C.E. Culture: Ancient Roman Material: Polychrome glass Dimensions: approx. 2.5 cm Weight: approx. 8.5 g Condition: Ancient surface wear, weathering and minor losses consistent with age; otherwise well preserved. CUSTOMS Dear bidders, please note that we do not ship to the UK or to countries outside the European Union. If you are located outside the EU and win this lot, the sale will unfortunately have to be cancelled. We apologise for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding. Enjoy the bidding. oct23