Romano-Egyptian Faience, Glass, & Stone Bead Necklace (Auction 2026-06-05, Lot 162A)

$321.25

Roman Egypt, Imperial period, ca. 1st to 4th century CE. A vibrant strand of Romano-Egyptian beads brings together faience, stone, and glass in a composition that bridges antiquity and modern wearability. The necklace is formed from an array of small disk beads in soft earthen tones, interspersed with vivid turquoise, deep blue, and green elements that once would have echoed the brilliant hues prized along the Nile. Suspended at the center is a decorative arrangement of elongated and tubular faience beads, accented with smaller stone and glass components that create a subtle pendant-like flourish. The varied shapes – cylindrical, barrel, and disk – reflect the diversity of bead production in Roman Egypt, where faience continued a Pharaonic tradition while glassworking flourished under Mediterranean influence. Size of largest bead: 0.4″ L (1 cm); of necklace: 18″ L (45.7 cm)

Faience, a glazed non-clay ceramic composed primarily of silica, was valued for its luminous blue-green surface, symbolically associated with regeneration and the life-giving waters of the Nile. The inclusion of stone and glass beads adds texture and tonal contrast, highlighting the layered history embodied in the strand. Restrung on a modern cord with a discreet magnetic clasp, the necklace has been thoughtfully assembled for secure and comfortable wear, allowing ancient materials to be appreciated not only as artifacts but as adornment once more.

Provenance: ex-Moore collection, Houston, Texas, USA; Collection of Y. Kayvan, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired from a Los Angeles, California, USA gallery acquisition dates range from the late 1990s to 2005

Condition: Ancient beads strung on a modern strand with a magnetic clasp to be wearable. Expected weathering to beads with some chips and abrasions in areas. Otherwise, very nice presentation with good remaining colors.