Ca. 500 - 300 BC.
A set of Phoenician wearable glass beaded necklace and bracelet. The necklace is composed of dozens of globular blue eye beads and embellished in the frontal side with a huge glass pendant in the shape of a head. Semi-opaque cobalt blue, with additions in opaque white and semi-opaque. The bracelet is a stunning example of an ancient Phoenician mosaic glass restrung to graduate in size. Composed with seven round beads depicting the iconic face of Phoenician culture on different colored backgrounds and an almond shaped bead in green glass. Phoenician glass production stands as a testament to the ingenuity and craftsmanship of this ancient civilization. Dating back to the 15th century BC, the Phoenicians mastered the art of glassmaking, establishing themselves as pioneers in the field. The heart of Phoenician glass production lay in coastal cities such as Sidon, Tyre, and Byblos, where abundant resources like silica sand, soda ash, and lime were readily available. These raw materials, combined with their expertise in furnace technology, allowed the Phoenicians to produce glass of exceptional quality. For similar see: MET Museum Accession Number: 81.10.151.
Size: 65-340mm x 15-40mm; Weight: 80g
Provenance: Prince collection, 1990s-2014; Ex. Binoche' Paris, 30 May 2012, lot 117. This item has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database and comes with a confirmation letter.