Glass ornaments

The Mycenaeans specialized in the production of glass beads for diadems and other types of jewelry, as well as clothing decoration. Seven of the ornaments here, all made from the same or very similar molds, were originally overlaid with gold leaf, some of which is still preserved. Plaques cast from glass were stylistically akin to gold reliefs. Mycenaean glassworkers may have gilded these pieces in an attempt to imitate the more expensive metalwork.

1. Set of ten matching ornaments, all made in very similar molds.

Semi-translucent light grey blue.

Ivy-leaf shape; flat back; straight sides; two holes pierced vertically through leaf on each side.

Molded decoration on front: raised outline around edge of leaf with swirls at top joining at center in a pelta motif.

All intact, except for one that survives only as top half of ornament; all covered with thick creamy brown weathering.

2. Set of six matching ornaments, all made in same or very similar molds.

Semi-translucent blue.

Thin circular panel, with projecting vertical reel above; flat back; tapering edges at sides; reel pierced lengthwise with a small horizontal hole.

Molded decoration on front: four fine vertical ribs on reel; conical disk with raised outline and a fine spiral line surrounding a central depression.

Five intact, one missing part of disk; creamy brown weathering and iridescence.

3. Set of three matching ornaments, all made in same or very similar molds.

Translucent blue.

Thin circular panel, with projecting vertical reel above; flat back; tapering edges at sides; reel pierced lengthwise with a small horizontal hole.

Molded decoration on front: four fine vertical ribs on reel; horizontal row of dots below; conical disk outlined with dots and a fine spiral line surrounding a central depression.

All intact; varying degrees of creamy brown weathering and iridescence.