Description:

During the Warring States Period (481-221 BC) beautiful beads like this were made in China. They have been called “eye beads” because their rings of inlaid colours often stick out from the surface, and look like eyes.

Chinese glassmakers were inspired by imports of Roman beads traded along the Silk Route. They made the beads by dropping and trailing coloured glass onto the surface whilst heating with a flame to melt the colours into each other.

Glass, inlaid
Length: 2.8 cm, diameter: 2.3 cm

Creator: Unknown

Date: Probably 400-200 BC

Copyright: Bristol Museums, Galleries & Archives

Object ID:N7847