String of 10 beads
Unknown Artist
1st Century B.C. to 1st Century A.D.
Medium
Beryl
Dimensions
l. 11.5 cm (4 1/2 in.)
Classification
Beads, string
Period
Ptolemaic or Roman Period
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Helen Miller Gould, 1910
Accession Number
10.130.2917
Art Historical Context
This delicate string of 10 beryl beads, dating from the 1st century.C. to the 1st century A.D., offers a glimpse into the refined jewelry traditions of Ptolemaic or Roman Egypt Crafted from beryl—a translucent gemstone prized for its and subtle green or blue hues—the beads measure 11.5 cm in length, suggesting they formed part of a necklace or amulet. Acquired as a gift from Helen Miller Gould in 1910, this piece now resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Egyptian Art collection. In Ptolemaic Egypt, under Greek rulers like the Ptolemies, and later Roman influence, jewelry blended Egyptia...