Bead
Unknown Artist
ca. 9th century BCE
Medium
Amber
Dimensions
0.55 x 1.85 in. (1.4 x 4.7 cm)
Classification
Stone-Ornaments
Culture & Period
Iran · Iron Age II, Hasanlu Period IV
Department
Ancient Near Eastern Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1965
Accession Number
65.163.79
Art Historical Context
This delicate amber bead, dating to around the 9th century, hails from Iron Age II Iran during the Hasanlu Period. Measuring just 0.55 x 1.85 inches, it exemplifies the exquisite craftsmanship of ancient personal ornaments from the Ancient Near East. Crafted from amber—a fossilized tree resin prized for its warm, golden translucence—this tiny gem was likely worn as jewelry or used in rituals, reflecting everyday luxury in a bustling ancient society. Excavated from the Hasanlu site in northwestern Iran, a key urban center violently destroyed around this time, the bead offers a glimpse into vib...