Bead
Eastern Zhou dynasty (770–256 B.C.), c. 5th c. B.C.
Medium
Round glass bead with pattern of seven circles within a circle in brown, white and blue glass. Currently stored in embroidered box.
Dimensions
2.2 × 2.2 cm (7/8 × 7/8 in.); Diam.: 2.2 cm (7/8 in.)
Classification
glass
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
62583
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The earliest examples of Chinese glass include polychrome beads like these, in which superimposed layers of different colors create eye-like motifs. Rich in lead and barium, these beads are chemically distinct from those of soda-lime glass made in Greek and Roman workshops of the eastern Mediterranean and western Asia, rare examples of which have been discovered in north and northwest China. Those foreign imports inspired Chinese craftsmen to create their own polychrome beads. Their burial conte...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...