Egyptian & Near Eastern Bead Group - Faience Melon, Glass Eye, Amber

Mediterranean / Near East, Roman & Egyptian. A group of assorted beads of faience, glass, and amber. Two large ribbed melon beads are faience or pottery, one in sand tones and one in pale glaze with traces of turquoise. Seven irregular amber nuggets in honey and russet shades are drilled for suspension, a few with polished faces. Nine glass beads show concentric eye motifs, black-and-white bands, a cobalt-striped cylinder, and mottled spheres. An opaque blue paste bead resembles lapis lazuli. The amulet is a small green faience forearm ending in a fist with the thumb set between the first two fingers, a gesture known as the fig hand and worn to ward off the evil eye. The fig hand (Latin manus fica, Italian mano fico) is one of the oldest protective gestures in the Mediterranean world. Romans wore it as an amulet against the evil eye and against misfortune in general, and it often had a fertility meaning as well. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. Item # 205612

Estimate:£186.96

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