Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE, possibly earlier. A lovely strand of seventy-four glass beads of rounded forms, most with multiple evil eyes, the vast majority presenting beautiful, translucent, blue and green hues with white Evil Eyes. An incredible strand of fine glass beads intended to protect the wearer against the evil eye. No entity is more recognized for its ability to ward off malevolent forces than the evil eye. Here we have seventy-four beads in striking cobalt and teal hues created to dispel the curse transmitted via that malicious gaze! Size: 26" L (66 cm); largest measure ~ .625" in diameter (1.6 cm)
Imagery of the Evil Eye was first recorded by the Mesopotamian approximately 5,000 years ago in cuneiform on clay tablets. Some scholars believe that it may actually have originated as early as the Upper Paleolithic Age. Evil Eye iconography has been found in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim cultures as well as Buddhist and Hindu societies; however, each culture ascribes a similar meaning to it. The evil eye is believed to be a curse cast by a malevolent glare that is typically directed at a person who is unsuspecting and unaware. Many cultures believe that the evil eye can bring about misfortune, injury, or bad luck. For this reason, talismans and beads like these traditionally have been created to protect the wearer against the evil eye given their powerful apotropaic properties against the evil eye.
Provenance: private Japanese collection, acquired in the early 1990s
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#138191
Condition
Beads show expected surface wear commensurate with age. Some with chips, stable fissures, and/or missing white eye details. Most presenting marvelous translucency and several with sparkling iridescence that has developed over the ages. All beads are ancient; strung in modern times.