Romano-Egyptian Mosaic Glass Eye Amulet

Name: Romano-Egyptian Mosaic Glass Eye Amulet - St James Ancient Art
Brand: Egyptian
SKU: RGS-104
Price: 495.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

£ 495.00

An exceptionally rare Romano-Egyptian mosaic eye amulet, made from turquoise glass. The amulet is lozenge shaped, made from vibrant turquoise opaque glass. On the obverse are three mosaic eye motifs. These would have been made from glass rods and fused, in antiquity, to the amulet. The eyes are almond shaped, with blue iris’s and black pupils. Long black eyelashes, individually crafted, fan out along the top and bottom lash-line. The reverse of the amulet is plain. There would have been a loop at the top for suspension but this is now missing.

SKU: RGS-104
Categories: Egyptian, New Items, Roman Empire
Tags: Eye of Horus, Iridescence
Date: Circa 1st century BC - 1st century AD
Period: Roman Period
Provenance: Ex English collection, AB, acquired 1920s-40, passed by descent.
Condition: Very fine. Suspension loop is now missing and some deterioration of the left eye. Some overall loss of colour and chips to the edges. Beautiful iridescence to the left side.

Description
Additional information

Amulets such as this were popular during the Roman period in Egypt. They fused together the Egyptian application of the Eye of Horus, with the Roman fascination of the ‘oculus malus’, or evil eye. To the Romans, the evil eye was very much an object to be feared and protected from. It was a personification of the negative effects of life and a person’s bad luck, and sometimes their hubris. It was the cause of mysterious illnesses, the reason for plagues or destruction that could not be explained. Apotropaic amulets and imagery warding off the evil eye and its negative consequences were thus very common.

Reference: For a similar complete amulet: The National Museum of Ancient Art, Smithsonian Institute, Washington DC, item F1909.504. For an amulet with multiple eyes, incomplete: Bonhams Auction House, London, Antiquities Auction, 5 October 2011, lot 204, part.