bead

The mosaic technique originated early in the history of glassmaking, but it was reintroduced by Hellenistic and Roman artisans. Mosaic canes were made from thin rods of glass that were fused, stretched, and cut into tiny slices to form often intricate decorative motifs. These canes were used by the Romans to create glass beads, as can be seen in their famous face beads (e.g.,54.1.154, 62.1.25, and 95.1.4). This example illustrates the advanced skills of Roman glass- and beadmakers. It is one of the most complex forms of mosaic glass beads. The bead includes 18 cane plaques with four different patterns placed within a dark-colored matrix in three registers. The imagery on the plaques is related to the style that developed as the Roman Empire spread into Egypt and blended various iconographic motifs—such as lions, papyri, and rosettes—with its own decorative elements.