String of 18 Eyed Beads
Unknown Artist
1st Millennium BC–1st Millennium AD
Medium
Glass
Classification
Necklace, beads
Period
Third Intermediate Period–Islamic Period
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Helen Miller Gould, 1910
Accession Number
10.130.3042
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Egyptian Art collection, this *String of 18 Ey Beads*—a generous gift from Helen Miller Gould 1910—spans an astonishing timeline from the Third Intermediate Period (c. 1070–664 BC) through the Islamic Period (up to the 1st millennium AD Crafted from vibrant glass by an unknown ancient artisan, these beads showcase Egypt's enduring mastery of glassmaking, a technique perfected as early as the New Kingdom and refined over centuries. The "eyed" design, featuring concentric circles mimicking watchful eyes, was a hallmark of Egyptian beadwork. These patt...