String of Beads
4th-5th century
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
Average: Diam.: 1.6 cm (3 in.); H.: 102.2 cm (40 1/4 in.)
Classification
stone
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
135058
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Perhaps used for personal adornment or decoration within the home, these beads are individually patterned with black stripes. It is possible that the abstract shapes had a symbolic or protective meaning in addition to providing a pleasing design.
About the Artist
Ancient Roman
The artists attributed to "Ancient Roman" in museum collections represent the anonymous craftsmen who produced the vast output of sculpture, frescoes, mosaics, and reliefs defining Roman visual culture from the Republic (c. 509–27 BCE) to the late Empire (c. 395 CE). Individual identities remain elusive, as Roman makers were typically viewed as skilled tradesmen—often enslaved Greeks or provincial...