BP79

Egyptian Faience and Ancient Blue Glass Single Beads - Picture Collection 79
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These beads were bought in Mali on a strand of ancient mixed beads ..
others were discovered in situ amongst many 900+ year old Medieval Beads.
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First developed around 5,000 years ago in Egypt, Faience is a glazed, non-clay ceramic material and was the forerunner to glass, but is a much softer material.
Used by the Egyptians to imitate various much more expensive precious stones and known to them as tjehnet, a word they associated with the properties of shining, gleaming, or dazzling and was thought to glisten with a light, symbolic of life,
rebirth and immortality.
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The beads below show some of the beautiful and long-lasting colours that were achieved so long ago .. having various degrees of wear which is consistent with the authentic patina of their great age.
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The bright blue beads are ancient Egyptian Blue glass . click HERE for its origins
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For a full description of their history, ancient production methods, the chemicals responsible for their beautiful colours and a lot more - please read this excellent article by Marie Parsons


38 x 33 x 12 mm F Domed fronts with flat backs 30 x 26 x 9 mm F				29 x 23 x 10 mm

23 x 13 mm	23 x 14	18 x 14 mm	19 x 13 mm	17 x 14 mm

20 x 16 x 7 mm	18 x 14 x 8 mm	10 x 14 x 5 mm	21 x 12 x 7 mm	22 x 12 x 6 mm

23 x 14 x 5 mm	23 x 18 x 6 mm	19 x 16 x 5 mm	22 x 12 mm Cylinder	15 x 11 mm Cylinder

17 x 15 x 10 mm	15 x 14 x 11 mm	14 x 14 x 14 mm	12 x 12 x 9 mm	10 x 18 mm

8 x 18 mm	10 x 16 mm	Cross section	12 x 14 mm	12 x 13 mm

11 x 12 mm	17 x 12 x 12 mm	24 x 14 mm Cylinder	22 x 10 mm	17 x 13 mm

19 x 10 mm	18 x 11 mm	16 x 11 mm	17 x 11 mm	16 x 12 mm0

13 x 8 x 6 mm	12 x 7 mm	13 x 7 mm	15 x 7 mm	13 x 5 mm

11 x 9 x 5 mm Plaque	8 x 10 mm Bicone	7 x 11 mm	7 x 10 mm	9 x 11 mm



9 x 16 mm	8 x 14 mm	7 x 15 mm	8 x 13 mm	10 x 13 mm


10 x 12 mm	10 x 12 mm	16 x 19 mm	11 x 14 mm	13 x 14 mm


11 x 15 mm	11 x 13 mm	12 x 15 mm	11 x 14 mm	13 x 14 mm


11 x 14 mm	10 x 13 mm	10 x 13 mm	10 x 12 mm	9 x 13 mm


8 x 10 mm	8 x 10 mm	8 x 11 mm	9 x 10 mm	9 x 9 mm

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