Bead
1 of 2
Object Label
This pair of glass beads was made during an early period of highly inventive glass bead making in China from the fifth to third centuries b.c. The raised-eye motifs show the influence of beads that had been made in Egypt, India, and western Asia since the third millennium b.c. as protection against the “evil eye.” These beads have an earthenware core, to which drops of glass paste were applied to create the multilayered eyes. No evidence shows that Chinese eye beads were believed to have protective qualities; most likely they were made for personal adornment.
Caption
Bead, 5th–4th century B.C.E.. Earthenware with polychrome decoration, 1 x 1in. (2.5 x 2.5cm) . Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Giselle Croes, 1996.70.2. Creative Commons-BY
Collection
Collection
Title
Bead
Date
5th–4th century B.C.E.
Period
Warring States Period
Geography
Place made: China
Medium
Earthenware with polychrome decoration
Classification
Dimensions
1 x 1in. (2.5 x 2.5cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Giselle Croes
Accession Number
1996.70.2
Rights
Creative Commons-BY
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