Iron Age Celtic Stratified Glass Eye Bead with Prunts

4th-2nd century BC

€ 550.00 VAT margin scheme

In stock: 1 available Article code: B22-020

Product Description

Celtic glass 'Eye' bead with four multi-layered eyes in white and blue and white prunts. Related to the so-called Phoenician head beads with prunts.

Dimensions

Diameter bead: ± 14 mm

Height bead: ± 10,1 mm (excluding prunts)

Condition

The bead is intact and in excellent condition. All applied prunts remain in place, which is unusual for this type.

Production

The layered Eye beads are made by fusing different colored glass rods, then cut in small pieces and pressed in a hot matrix. Finally the ring beads were smoothed and polished.

The Phoenicians were pioneers in glass bead production, creating highly prized items that were widely traded across the Mediterranean and beyond. Their advanced techniques enabled bold designs with striking colors and intricate motifs, such as faces, animals, and geometric patterns.

Inspired and influenced by the Phoenicians, Celtic artisans crafted glass beads with vibrant colors and intricate patterns, showcasing their creativity and skill. The Celts favoured bold motifs, including the 'Evil Eye,' spirals, faces, and zigzags in shades of blue, green, and yellow. The Celtic designs often symbolised status, spirituality, or personal identity. The intricate patterns and vibrant colors reflected the wearer's social standing or beliefs, with some designs possibly linked to nature or cosmic elements.

Celtic burials throughout Europe have revealed face beads. According to Strabo, the Celts venerated the human head above all else. For the Celts, the head was the soul, centre of emotions, as well as of life itself, a symbol of divinity and the powers of the other-world.

The 'Evil Eye' motif, believed to ward off malevolent gazes, dates back over 5.000 years. This design was prevalent in Mediterranean cultures and appeared in Celtic mythology as a talisman. Archaeological finds across Celtic sites in Europe feature 'Evil Eye' beads, reflecting their widespread use and spiritual importance