Cast pendant bead (In-gallery 2009 .1-.6, .8-.10, .12, .16, .17)

Made of glass, this rectangular plaque is cast with relief decoration: a pattern of vertical lines over four small knobs. The upper edge is perforated for stringing. The Mycenaeans manufactured glass plaques to adorn diadems, jewelry, and clothing. The beads in the Getty Museum’s collection, decorated with rosette, ivy, shell, and shield designs, were cast from blue and turquoise glass imported from Egypt or the Near East. Such pendants are stylistically akin to gold reliefs used for similar ornamentation.