Hi Nishedha,

What a beautiful bead. Thanks for showing it. What age do you think it is? And could it have come originally from West or even Central Asia?

I've been struck before by the resemblance of some carnelian or agate eye beads to Phoenician stratified glass beads, and this one embodies the resemblance perfectly. Is this the effect those Phoenician beadmakers were aiming for, I wonder?

All the best,

Will

This is a small etched bead(8mm), I was told that it is from the byzantine period. I showed it in Amsterdam at the "Duif" gathering and I'm still trying to date it.

Hendrik

Thank you. It was part of this group.

Hendrik

Now, if you do not know its age and/or where does it come from, it is doubtless a "mystery bead"!
Being a full fledged ignoramus, I cannot give straight answers to your questions.
This bead looks exactly as those round carnelian beads used by the Fulani women together with a few Venetian fancies and clear glass Czech beads (as in the necklace below). In my opinion these old carnelian stone beads are under valued, partly due to the idiosyncrasy of the African world: similar ones coming from South East Asia are more likely to be sold as singles -- even as "heirloom beads".
My guess is that this particular one is from Cambay.

And yes, I also think that the Phoenician glass eye beads(even perhaps the Tibetan dZi) were made with their treasured stone ancestors in mind: rich, colorful patterns atoning for a shorter pedigree. In this way more people were enabled to own at least one prestige item.

Hi Nisheda, The rectangularish carnelians are being sold here for about $30.USD ea. They were purchased in Hunan from Pakistani dealers if that gives any idea to a date and location.