More beads, maybe Roman?

Sorry to hog the Forum with my bead queries. These were left in the jumble jewellery biscuit tin (along with the seed beads) and I thought someone cared enough to string them together. I’ve found out two are called melon beads (black one is an inch long) and were used all over and may be Roman, these are the 4 strung together. It’s difficult to figure out whether they made from stones, glass or clay, but the pale round one on the long string is definitely stone. Any thoughts anyone? I do realise it’s difficult without handling them but any info or opinions are appreciated.

 

I suspect more probably Egyptian for some of them. The coloured clay ones look to be faience - that blue one. The two stone ones on the same thread may well be Roman. Likewise the wee glass ones. Got a local museum or archaeology society? You can get these very cheaply, but I love them.

 

It's not cared enough as in liked them enough to make something out of them. Just keeping similar beads together & harder to lose. All look very old, although some required more advanced means of manufacture than others. I would look to Africa for the clay beads. Even the Etruscans had more sophisticated beads of glass & faience through trading.

 

Old - as in, 4000 year old - Egyptian faience or coloured clay ones aren't that sophisticated. Or at least, the mass market ones aren't. I've got a string somewhere. There's shops round the British Museum sell them.

 

We do have a museum but I’ve never had replies to my email for my beach fossils, I think they have too few experts who get overwhelmed.
I’m thrilled to have something so old.

 

I get that, it's why I bought that Roman glass.

 

I’m not sure what to do with them either as I wouldn’t want to mix them with other modern beads so I can understand why someone might not make something else out of them. Think the black one with the two holes would work as a pendant.

 

Shadow box them?

 

Not a bad idea; small shadowbox frames turn up in craft stores. and displaying the beads wouldn't be difficult.

 

Yup, or a wee box with a glass lid. I'm thinking sit them in it, rather than wall hang.

 

I feel a little awe seeing beads that are likely that old... what a great find! I also like the idea of shadow-boxing them.

 

It’s been really interesting just handling them, thinking who would have worn them and who made them. Also they were ignored at the jumble, (by me initially too) such a buzz to realise they were something a bit special.

 

I think it's wonderful that a few beads can provide such a vivid connection with the past! We don't need to "own" a Tutankhamun mask, a Da Vinci or Renoir to hear the subliminal echo that speaks to us of people, places and actions from centuries ago. It's part of what keeps me searching and collecting.
What inspires other members?

 

Stories, history, puzzles. Where has this whatsit been and what has it seen?

 

The best bead I ever saw had a finger print in it. A four thousand year old one. It's a bit like seeing paw prints in the baked clay bricks at Herculaneum.

 

I’m surprised that I’m not too bothered about how much things are worth, I don’t sell much. I’m more interested in finding out what they are, who made them and where and whether I have sniped the other jumble and carboot buyers if the items have been ignored and Charity shop appraisers, (especially if they have been in the hands of their jewellery experts). I’m often told that by the staff.
The internet is such a help as is this forum of course.