Bead
1550-1196 BCE
Classification
Jewelry and Ornament
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Accession Number
F1909.1430
Tags
About this artwork
To 1909
Art Historical Context
This unassuming yet remarkable glass bead hails from ancient Egypt's New Kingdom (ca. 1550–1196 BCE), a age of pharaonic power marked by monumental architecture, expansive trade, and cultural splendor under rulers like Hatshepsut and Ramses II. Crafted this dynamic era, the bead exemplifies everyday artistry from a civilization renowned for its mastery of materials and symbolism. As jewelry and ornament, it likely adorned necklaces, amulets, or seals, serving both decorative and protective purposes in daily life or rituals. Glass production flourished in Egypt during the New Kingdom, with art...
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...