Roman Bead Collection

Age: 100 AD - 400 AD
Period: Classical Era (500 BC - 500 AD)
Location:
Materials: Glass and lapis lazuli

Roman glass was typically made by melting a mixture of sand (silica), soda (natron), and lime at very high temperatures, often in specially designed furnaces. This resulted in molten glass that could be shaped into various objects either using moulds or by winding the molten glass around a metal or clay rod (called a mandrel) that would then be removed after the glass was cool. 

Beads were often coloured by adding metallic oxides to the molten mixture. For example, copper oxide was used to create green or blue hues, while manganese oxide produced purple or amethyst shades.

Lapis lazuli, a semi-precious stone prized for its deep blue color, was sourced primarily from mines in Afghanistan and traded across the Roman Empire. These beads were carefully carved, drilled, and polished from raw stone, using techniques honed over centuries. Both materials required considerable skill and attention to detail, reflecting the high level of artistry and technical knowledge of Roman craftsmen.

This Roman Bead Collection has been displayed and elegantly mounted in a museum quality deep box frame, by our expert in-house team.

Frame: Satin finished acrylic

Mount: 300 GSM acid free card stock with a 2 mm bevelled edge matboard border

Display: Self standing frame or wall hanging bracket

Dimensions: 40 x 40 x 6 cm

The picture shown is an example of the quality that you can expect to receive. Please be aware that, as these are natural products, they are subject to some variation.

We work closely with reputable suppliers all over the world to source high quality, genuine specimens. Each artefact comes with a certificate of authenticity documenting its provenance, including the age and location where it was discovered.

We are working hard to be a carbon neutral brand, by investing in planting trees to offset our carbon emissions and continuing to operate responsibly. We also package all of our products using 100% recyclable or reusable materials to reduce our environmental impact.

Both ourselves and our suppliers use recycled material through as much of the design & production process as possible. All of our card mounts and solid oak stands are FSC certified, meaning that the trees used are harvested responsibly and replaced to ensure no net loss of forest.

Every frame comes with a loyalty bug sticker, collect 6 to fill your loyalty card & receive a free Bug Club frame!