Object Image

Glass spacer bead

Uncertain color, appearing opaque black.

Elongated oval, plano-convex shape; two holes side by side.

On upper face, winged head (of Mercury?) in relief.

Intact, but slightly chipped at one side around holes; dulling, slight pitting, and weathering.

Credit: Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917

c. 4th century A.D.
Glass; rod-formed and stamped
2.5 x 1.5 x 1.0 cm
17.194.463
Image and text © Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2019

Where you'll find this

The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Permanent collection