Coll. of 10 superb large faceted Quartz beads, Greek Bactria
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Directory: Antiques: Regional Art: Ancient World: Near Eastern: Stone: Pre AD 1000: Item # 1447459
Directory: Antiques: Regional Art: Ancient World: Near Eastern: Stone: Pre AD 1000: Item # 1447459
$195.00
A wonderful small collection of 10 handpicked superb larger quartz beads, Greco-Bactrian Empire, ca. 2nd. cent. BC-1st. AD.
Interesting and rare selection of 10 beads from Bactria, Balkh Area, made during the Greco-Bactrian Empire and with remnants of later dying in Cobalt and torquise during the Islamic Dynasties, 9th.-10th. century AD.
These types of beads are expertly carved in the very hard Quartz material, with rating of 7+ on the hardness scale for semi-precious stones with panels/faceted. These beads were once classified but was convincingly reassigned to the Greco-Bactrian Empire by Gunnar Muhlman, see the article here: ancientbead.com/Ancient_Glaced_Bactrian_Beads.html
The shapes could be a result of the craftsmanship of a primitive wheel cutting, operated by a cutter and 'cyclist' keeping the wheel with diamond dust spinning. This technique is as old as the invention of the diamond drill, 600 B.C. and worked pretty much on the same technological level as the bow drill.
In most cases, the glaze is partly worn away, and so are the original delicate cut shapes. In general, the beads show a lot of wear and tear, but the 10 selected here are much better than average and the fine shapes are visible! The reuse, shows the popularity of these beautiful beads.
Sizes: The diameter are up to around 1,8 cm. so larger beads.
Ex. Old Danish Private Collection
Interesting and rare selection of 10 beads from Bactria, Balkh Area, made during the Greco-Bactrian Empire and with remnants of later dying in Cobalt and torquise during the Islamic Dynasties, 9th.-10th. century AD.
These types of beads are expertly carved in the very hard Quartz material, with rating of 7+ on the hardness scale for semi-precious stones with panels/faceted. These beads were once classified but was convincingly reassigned to the Greco-Bactrian Empire by Gunnar Muhlman, see the article here: ancientbead.com/Ancient_Glaced_Bactrian_Beads.html
The shapes could be a result of the craftsmanship of a primitive wheel cutting, operated by a cutter and 'cyclist' keeping the wheel with diamond dust spinning. This technique is as old as the invention of the diamond drill, 600 B.C. and worked pretty much on the same technological level as the bow drill.
In most cases, the glaze is partly worn away, and so are the original delicate cut shapes. In general, the beads show a lot of wear and tear, but the 10 selected here are much better than average and the fine shapes are visible! The reuse, shows the popularity of these beautiful beads.
Sizes: The diameter are up to around 1,8 cm. so larger beads.
Ex. Old Danish Private Collection
