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Pitt Rivers Museum

1946.8.105

Spherical bead of translucent slightly bluish white glass with medium thread hole [RTS 19/4/2004].


1946.8.105

Digital asset copyright: Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford

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Collection type
Object
Description
Spherical bead of translucent slightly bluish white glass with medium thread hole [RTS 19/4/2004].
Long description
Spherical bead with convex sides and a medium sized thread hole running through the body, slightly off centre. This has smooth, straight cylindrical sides. It has been made from a translucent bluish white glass, but this appears yellow when held up to the light. The thread hole is cylindrical and smooth sided, and several small bubbles may be seen suspended in the glass body; the bead may therefore have been manufactured by being drawn. There are several small chips missing from the surface; the object is otherwise complete. It measures 14.7 by 13.9 mm around the body, has a height (along the axis of the hole) of 12.2 mm, and the thread hole has a diameter of 4 mm at one end, and 5 by 4 mm at the other end, with a weight of 3.5 grams [RTS 19/4/2004].
Geographical reference
Cultural groups
Shilluk
Person
Field collector Charles Gabriel Seligman
Field collector Brenda Zara Seligman
PRM source Brenda Zara Seligman
Date / Period
Date made: Before 1946
Date collected
By 1946
Acquisition information
Donated: 1946
Materials and processes
Material Glass, Material Bead, Process Drawn
Dimensions
Height: max 12.2 mm, Length: max 14.7 mm, Diameter: max 4 mm thread hole, Width: max 13.9 mm, Weight 3.5 g
Object numbers
Accession number: 1946.8.105
Research and responses

The Lotuko wear a similar bead hung on a hide necklet (see 1934.8.70-71); another bead of this type in the collection came from the Dinka (1934.8.22), and further examples were collected by D. Gunn at Omdurman (1903.16.81 and 1903.16.84) [RTS 29/4/2004].

Search terms: Ornament, Bead