Roman Glass and Gold Amphora Necklace

Elegant yet cheerful necklace of mixed ancient Roman glass beads in a myriad of colours, designs, and shapes, with an ancient Roman amphora pendant in gold, along with modern beads and my signature serpent hook clasp in gold.

Each of these beads is like a miniature masterpiece of form, line, pattern, and patina. Some are bright with bold circles and lines, while others are more muted with swirling loops. A few show the iridescence that builds up over the time they spent in the ground, weathering and aging until they were dug up again. The central drop is a high-karat gold amphora, representing the jugs of all sizes so common in the ancient world, used to carry wine, olive oil, and other trade goods.

This necklace, with its eclectic mix of the glassmaker’s art, is very much of the style that would have been worn at the time these beads were new, perhaps layered with a few other similar necklaces for a classically rich look.