Bead
1550-1196 BCE
Classification
Jewelry and Ornament
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Accession Number
F1909.1347
Tags
About this artwork
To 1909
Art Historical Context
This unassuming yet remarkable glass bead hails from ancient Egypt's New Kingdom period (ca. 1550–1196 BCE), a golden age of imperial power, monumental architecture, and refined craftsmanship under pharaohs like Hatshepsut and Ramses II. As part of the Jewelry and Ornament classification, it exemplifies the everyday adornments that graced the necks, wrists, and hair of Egyptians from all social strata, symbolizing status, protection, or piety through vibrant colors and intricate designs. Crafted from glass—a material Egyptians mastered early, fusing silica with mineral colorants—this bead sho...
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...