A stunning ancient bicone jasper disc bead. 46.77 mm (diameter) x 14.62 (depth). It always amazes me how jasper is often overlooked in favour of banded agate beads. Jasper is an opaque form of chalcedony and the name is likely to have originated from the Persian word "yašp". Jasper is certainly amongst the most colourful materials used in antiquity. According to the second book of the Hebrew bible (Exodus), it was also used in the breastplate of Jewish high priests. This bead was supposedly found in the Western Sahara desert and was possibly a spindle whorl.
No comments:
Post a Comment