Small tubular/bicone ancient glass bead originally from the Middle East.
Black with cream/off-white trails.
Heavy damage on one end. Could still be used for design purposes with use of bead cap or other design measures. Priced to accommodate damage.
Sourced by Rita in the early 1990's. Provenance: from an old collection
17 x 10 mm.
This is part of a large group of ancient glass beads that haven’t been listed in a long time, and had less than optimal photography when they were listed, due to limited digital photography technology in 1999, when the original Rita Okrent website was built.
Circa early Islamic era, approximately CE 700-1400. As per bead expert, Jamey Allen: Islamic Period beads are ca. 1000 years old. Dating from between ca CD 900-1200. They might be as early as CE 700, and as late as 1400. In 1400, Western Asian glass industries were destroyed by Tamerlane. And soon after, Egypt desisted as well. This is when Venice stepped in and became the glass maker for all of Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean.
Ancient Glass Item 077b