North Africa, Egypt, Fustat, Islamic culture, ca. 7th to 11th century CE. A wonderful ensemble of 5 sizeable glass beads, each presenting a barrel form and formed using the mosaic glass technique. Each beautiful bead is comprised of 6 canes spirally wound with alternating trails to create a zigzag effect. Though 1 bead exhibits only hues of blue and white, the remaining 4 beads display shades of blue, white, yellow, and red. The canes were fused over a central rod and then flattened and fire-polished on both ends. Size (of largest): 1.7" W x 1.7" H (4.3 cm x 4.3 cm)

According to Maud Spayer in "Ancient glass in the Israel Museum: beads and other small objects" (Israel: The Israel Museum, 2001, page 103), "Beads with longitudinal zigzag designs were reported from Fustat and named after that site. Fustat beads, alternatively termed 'Fustat fused-rod' beads, are fused from eight, or occasionally six, trail decorated, spirally twisted cane sections, around a beadmaking rod. . . Most Fustat beads were undoubtedly made in Egypt, some, if not all, at Fustat in the 9th. and 10th. centuries CE. However, it is conceivable that some examples are slightly earlier or later and/or of non-Egyptian provenance..."

A similar marvered glass bead was sold by Christie's London for 3,125 British sterling (equivalent to about $4,301.24) on October 6th, 2008 as lot 18 in the "Art of the Islamic And Indian Worlds" auction (Live Auction 7615).

Cf. Corning Museum of Glass, 81.1.44 and 95.1.36.

Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010

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#135010

All wearable as beads or pendants. Expected surface wear to all as shown, commensurate with age. Otherwise, all are intact and excellent.