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Glass mosaic face bead

1st century BCE–1st century CE
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 171
Opaque white, yellow, and red, and translucent blue and deep purple, appearing black.
Square with slightly rounded edges and corners; flat front and back; small horizontal hole.
At center, round female face framed by black and white striped hair, with almond-shaped eyes, eyebrows, nose, and slit mouth with red lips; the face enclosed in black and white circles set on a blue square ground; this in turn is encased in the yellow diamond on a blue square that extends almost to edges of bead, which are in white.
Intact; dulling, pitting, and some creamy weathering.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Glass mosaic face bead
  • Period: Early Imperial
  • Date: 1st century BCE–1st century CE
  • Culture: Roman, Eastern Mediterranean
  • Medium: Glass
  • Dimensions: H.: 1/2 in. (1.3 cm)
  • Classification: Glass
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1952
  • Object Number: 52.11.16
  • Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

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