A LARGE MARVERED GLASS NECKLACE BEAD Possibly Syria or Egypt, 13th - 14th century

A LARGE MARVERED GLASS NECKLACE BEAD
Possibly Syria or Egypt, 13th - 14th century
Of cylindrical shape, the terminals chamfered and smoothed around a central hollow core, the ground of the body opaque white and decorated with marvered red and blue irregular wavy pattern, 4.2cm x 3.5cm.
The same irregular wavy pattern on this large necklace bead can be seen on a pale blue and opaque white glass cup attributed to Egypt or Syria in the 8th - 9th century, now part of the Al-Sabah Collection in the Kuwait National Museum (inv. no. LNS 52 KG) and published in S. Carboni, Glass of the Sultans, New York, 2001, p. 138. This shows how certain designs lingered in the repertoire of the Islamic glass makers throughout the centuries.
Estimated at £700 - £900