bead

Gold (sandwich) glass was developed by Hellenistic glassmakers and further advanced by the Romans. This technique involved placing a thin layer of gold foil between two layers of usually colorless glass. It was used to produce beads, with the first known examples dating from the third century B.C. Many of these beads are thought to have been made by drawing one tube for the base layer, covering that tube with a thin coating of gold foil, and then placing a slightly larger tube on top and heating the entire assembly to fuse the layers. The technique by which this example was formed was less often practiced. The patterned bead, with its layers of glass and gold foil, was mold-pressed, probably with tongs. Most gold-glass beads are simple and undecorated, but this example was impressed. The front of the rectangular form probably depicts the Egyptian god Harpokrates in relief, as is evidenced by the finger held up to the mouth. Small circular forms, also in relief, can be seen on the reverse.