Ancient Medieval Early Islamic-Era Glass Evil Eye Beads, Pricing Varies, Sold Individually - Rita Okrent Collection (AG110N)

Ancient Early Islamic period glass eye beads. Sold individually.

Eye beads are among the most enduring ornaments of the ancient world — circular eye motifs created through lampwork, inset, or mosaic glassworking techniques. Produced across the Middle East in significant quantities from roughly 900–1200 CE, they traveled with the expansion of Islam to North Africa, Southern Europe, India, and beyond, reaching Sub-Saharan Africa where they served as symbols of status in the great Malian kingdoms and played roles in burial, initiation, and dowry rites.

Why we love these beads: Each bead is a small, distinct artifact. Differences in design, iridescence, wear, and color reflect centuries of use and trade across multiple cultures. No two are alike.

Sizes generally range from 8–15mm. Include any size preference in your order notes and we’ll do our best to accommodate based on current inventory.

Pricing reflects rarity, condition, eye quality, and color. Beads listed as “Damaged” show the most wear — chips, missing eyes, or similar — and are priced and sold accordingly.

The photographs are representative of available variations.

Interested in a full strand? A limited number of original 100-bead strands are available — mixed wear and bead types. Inquire for details.

Ancient Glass Item 110N

More: As bead researcher and expert, Robert K. Liu writes in Ornament Magazine: “The term Islamic Period Glass Beads is used, similarly to Roman Period Beads, to classify groups of ornaments from specific geographic areas and time periods, with recognizable characteristics including patterns and techniques. In the case of Islamic glass beads we know they originated in the Middle East and flourished mostly between the seventh and twelfth centuries. Their designs display a wide mix of techniques and styles: millefiori/mosaic (including pierced mosaic pad beads), trailed, filigreed, combed, fused rods, segmented/blown, folded (an Islamic innovation, Holland and Holland 2006) and those derived from amulet shapes, like charm case beads with loops.”Islamic glass beads traveled from their sources of production in the Middle and Near East together with the expansion of Islam to North Africa, Southern Europe (Spain), India and the Far East and they reached areas well beyond Islam’s actual limits of expansion such as Northern Europe. They also flowed into Sub-Saharan Africa, where they were valued and cherished for centuries in the Malian ancient kingdoms as a symbol of status and played an important role in the communities’ rites and ceremonies such a burials, initiation or dowries.

 Ancient Glass Item 110N