RARE- 21, Ancient, Roman Glass, oval shaped Beads, Aqua,

You are bidding on:

ONE, STRAND OF, 21, Ancient, Roman Glass Beads, Aqua, oval shaped, beads, with a hole drilled at the top and bottom.  The recovered glass has been crafted into flat Beads for present use. They are strung on a cotton, temporary cord. They range from 10mm to about 14x19mm.

This is the EXACT strand you will receive.

FYI: I will be retiring from selling beads on Ebay this summer.  I still have  a lot of  great  beads, but will not be ordering any more new ones.  I have really enjoyed making up bead collections and meeting all the talented bead artists who buy my lots.  Thanks for your support all these years!—gretchen
--------------------------------------------------------------

"Roman glass objects have been recovered across the Roman Empire in domestic, industrial and funerary contexts. Glass was used primarily for the production of vessels, although mosaic tiles and window glass were also produced. Roman glass production developed from Hellenistic technical traditions, initially concentrating on the production of intensely colored cast glass vessels. However, during the 1st century AD the industry underwent rapid technical growth that saw the introduction of glass blowing and the dominance of colorless or ‘aqua’ glasses. Production of raw glass was undertaken in geographically separate locations to the working of glass into finished vessels, and by the end of the 1st century AD large scale manufacturing resulted in the establishment of glass as a commonly available material in the Roman world, and one which also had technically very difficult specialized types of luxury glass, which must have been very expensive.

     "Roman glass production relied on the application of heat to fuse two primary ingredients: silica and soda. Technical studies of archaeological glasses divide the ingredients of glass as formers, fluxes, stabilizers, as well as possible opacifiers or colorants.
Former: The major component of the glass is silica, which during the Roman period was sand (quartz), which contains some alumina (typically 2.5%) and nearly 8% lime. Alumina contents vary, peaking around 3% in glasses from the western Empire, and remaining notably lower in glasses from the Middle East.
Flux: This ingredient was used to lower the melting point of the silica to form glass. Analysis of Roman glass has shown that soda (sodium carbonate) was used exclusively in glass production. During this period, the primary source of soda was natron, a naturally occurring salt found in dry lake beds. The main source of natron during the Roman period was Wadi El Natrun, Egypt, although there may have been a source in Italy.
Stabilizer: Glasses formed of silica and soda are naturally soluble, and require the addition of a stabilizer such as lime or magnesia. Lime was the primary stabilizer in use during the Roman period, entering the glass through calcareous particles in the beach sand, rather than as a separate component.

     Roman glass has also been shown to contain around 1% to 2% chlorine, in contrast to later glasses.  This is thought to have originated either in the addition of salt (NaCl) to reduce the melting temperature and viscosity of the glass, or as a contaminant in the natron."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you for looking and please check out my other auctions of beads, baubles and totems. I ship 5 days a week, and will combine shipping charges on multiple purchases, paid all at once, with ONE INVOICE, within a 5 day period.   I make every effort to ship the same day as your payment, if made in the morning.  
 

If you are not finished bidding on my beads etc., let me know and I will hold them until you inform me that you are. That way you can take advantage of my discount for shipping charges.

My shipping fees are minimal, in fact, usually less that the actual cost. I think Ebay should be a fun and pleasant experience with no big surprises on the cost of shipping. In the USA, I charge $3.90 for the first item and $.55 for each additional item, when paid within a 5 day period and in one payment. For all OVERSEAS and Canadian customers, please see shipping rates.

ALWAYS FREE DELIVERY CONFIRMATION IN THE USA

IN THE USA, spend $50.00 and get FREE shipping- Thanks so much for your loyal patronage. Combined shipping within a 5 day period ONLY please...