Mosaic eye

249EA
Mosaic eye bead
3-1 century BCE
Rhodes

Rod formed, wound, white matrix. Three eyes of sliced mosaic cane with cross-section of alternative blue and white concentric rings around blue center.
Intact, very good condition. 
Max diameter: 12 mm
Height:  9 mm

During the excavation of an ancient house in the city of Rhodes (1966-1967), a large amount of debris from a glass factory was recovered. The main production was evidently devoted to bead-making. Thousands of beads were discovered and the similar beads were among them. See full report in:
- G. D. Weinberg, “Glass Manufacture in Hellenistic Rhodes,” Archaiologikon Deltion 24 (1969), pp. 143-151, pl. 79 a; pl. 84 c.

For similar beads see:
- Alexeeva E.M. Antichniye busi severnogo prichernomoriya, Academy of Science, Moscow, 1975, table 14: 3.
- Ve´ronique Arveiller-Dulong, Marie-Dominique Nenna.  Les Verres antiques du Musée du Louvre III : Parure, instruments et éléments d’incrustation, Paris, Éditions du Louvre, Somogy, 2011,  p. 160,  #205-3.