Ancient Iron Age Britain~ Reproductions of a bead found at Swallowcliffe down, Wiltshire. Dated 501 B.C – 99 AD

I have always had a passion for the mystic cobalt blue eye beads. These beads have been found in multiple areas such as Queen’s Barrow, Wetwang Slack, Meare Lake Village, and Swallowcliffe Down.  All the beads from the burials listed are Iron age beads. (Dress and Identity in Iron Age Britain/ Elizabeth M. Foulds P. 266-267)

The beads are made of a base of opaque cobalt blue glass with the eye shape of white opaque glass and cobalt blue overlay.  They vary in size and the patterns are not completely symmetrical.

Here is a photo of the original bead found at Swallowcliffe Down.

eye bead artsand culture

https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/celtic-life-in-iron-age-britain/CAKSz1O9u3piJg

 

Here are my reproductions.

20180914_162029

Iron age cobalt eye bead reproductions by Dena Cowlishaw

 

Check back soon for more historical bead reproductions!