Head Pendant A:

A Mediterranean (possibly Aegean), rod-formed and molded pendant dating from the 3rd to 2nd millennium BC, about 12 mm wide, 10 mm thick and 19 mm from top to bottom. The condition is mostly good, though it is thought to have been professionally cleaned.

$1,000 to $6,000 +/-

Head Pendant B:

Similar to “A”, above except for colors and condition, about 13 x 9 x 18 mm.

$1,000 to $6,000 +/- This would be towards, but not on the lower end of the price scale due to condition.

Two-sided Face Pendant:

A Mediterranean molded and rod-formed semi-translucent olive glass pendant dating from the 4th to 3rd millennium BC, depicting the face of a long-haired female on both sides. The condition is quite worn, with chipping and age patina, about 18 mm wide, 7 mm thick and 22 mm from top to bottom.

$300 to $800

Baubo Pendant:

A Mediterranean molded glass pendant (loop is missing), depicting a nude female figure in a squatting position (head is missing along with the loop), thought to be associated possibly with protection in childbirth, or perhaps a cult-related symbol. The condition is mostly good except for the missing parts, about 11 mm wide, 7 mm thick and 13 mm from top to bottom.

$300 to $800

Demon Mask Bead:

A Roman era (Ptolemaic perhaps), molded faience mask depicting a demonic figure, with detailed beard a very sly smile, and horns above the ears. The condition is mostly good (it was difficult to properly photograph), about 14 mm wide, 6 mm thick and 19 mm from top to bottom, the stringing hole runs horizontally through the center of the face. It is possible that this piece is related to a theatre performance.

(Too unusual to estimate value)

Faience Standing Figure:

A Mediterranean molded and tooled faience figure of a pregnant female standing with arms up and hands upon the face, with a stringing hole in the center of the back. The condition is mostly good, about 11 mm wide, 9 mm thick and 29 mm, or over one inch from top to bottom. This appears to be similar to figures shown in Lankton’s Timeline, as dating from the Roman or Parthian period.

$400 to $1,000 plus (large variables in this category)

Face Bead A:

A rectangular-shaped Roman era (first century AD), tabular cane section bead depicting the face of an unhappy woman (perhaps it is a mother-in-law bead). The condition is mostly good, being very small, about 6 mm wide, 3 mm thick and 7 mm from top to bottom.

$400 to $1,000 (general range for small tabular face beads)

Face Bead B:

Similar to “A”, except larger and nicer, depicting the face of a man (?), at least the hair is short. The condition is good, about 11 to 13 mm in diameter and 3 mm in thickness.

$800 to $1,800 (general range for larger tabular face beads)

Face Bead C:

Similar to “B”, but in somewhat lesser condition, about 10 to 12 mm in diameter and 3 mm in thickness.

$800 to $1,800

Face Bead D:

This is a modern reproduction of some skill, found in Thailand in the last decade or so, about 8 mm in diameter and 6 mm in thickness.

$100

Face Bead E:

Red tabular cane segment with yellow face. There is some controversy over the authenticity of this type of bead. They have shown up at Tucson in the last several years in fairly significant quantities. Some think they may be Islamic period beads, but I believe that they are probably replicas. I do not want to argue the point with anyone, because I can express it with no certainty.

$150 to $500 +/-

Face Bead F:

A nice large Roman period somewhat obliate shaped bead with three faces (shoulders up), interspersed with mosaic geometric designs, around a medial band. The condition is good, about 16 mm in diameter and 14.5 mm through the stringing hole. In this case the faces are obviously female, wearing a red necklace.

$1,000 to as much as $12,000 plus (general range for this type of face bead)

There are many variations on the design and structure of spherical face beads, thus the prices can differ widely. It is unlikely however to find one even in poor condition for less than $1,000 each.

Face Bead G:

Similar to E, but more worn with age and fractured in places, depicting the face only, interspersed with geometric designs, about 13 mm in diameter. One face has short hair, a second is more rounded with hair coming down around the ears, and the third is too distorted to determine.

$1,000 to $12,000 (see explanation for “F”, above)

Mosaic Bird bead:

An unusual large Mediterranean area obliate shaped bead with a white medial panel depicting two figures of a standing bird (Ibis maybe ?), interspersed with an elaborate symbolic mosaic design, probably dating from the same general period as the face beads. The condition is mostly good, about 14 mm in diameter and 12 mm through the stringing hole.

(there is too much variability in this type of bead to give a price range)

Replica Face bead 1:

A larger obliate shaped ancient eye bead where two of the eyes on opposite sides from each other have been artfully covered with a modern face cane. This is an elaborate fake, about 18 mm in diameter and 10 mm though the large stringing hole.

Replica Head Pendant 1-R:

A large and elaborately decorated head pendant trying to replicate the more rare type of pendant with the curly hair and beard that was mentioned in the introduction. It has been artificially patinated to appear ancient, about 30 mm wide, 16 mm thick and 53 mm or over two inches from top to bottom. The back is flat, while an original of this type would show a hole from the rod-forming technique.

Replica Head Pendant 2-R:

From the same maker as “1-R”, above, but replicating what is generally referred to as a “Bull pendant”, thought to be representative of a bull faced demon (?). This along with the large head pendant came on a string (see third pic), that was almost an exact copy of an original Phoenician era necklace pictured in a fairly popular Japanese bead book.

Replica head pendants from Indonesia:

These two examples are courtesy of Russ Knobbs from Rings and things, and were found in Indonesia. I bought about ten of these and have been selling them on Ebay in an effort to bring attention to the great many fake head pendants being offered there as original pieces. Just last week, an identical type as one of these was seen on Ebay being offered as an original Phoenician era pendant. They are about one inch in height and in this case are both double face pendants, meaning one face on each side, front and back.

Around $15 to $25 retail

To all of you who got this far I applaud you for your patience, and apologize for boring you with my lousy writing skills. Otherwise please ask any questions and I will endeavor to answer them, or pass them off to someone else if I do not know the answer.

Best regards,
Jan Skipper
mosquitobay

Very interesting and not boring at all. Thank you so much for this educational show.

Gabriel

Really interesting exposition, Jan. Apart from fakes from Indonesia, do you know were other fakes are done? and from which country original come?
For what concerning prices, I think it's always interesting to know average retail prizes. I appreciate beads or necklaces for personal aesthetic criteria, or because they can tell a history etc. apart from their value. But to know prices it can give you useful references in managing one's collection increase.
Ciao and many thanks,
Giorgio

Hi Georgio,

The original Head beads in the early form are believed to have been manufactured mainly in and along the Phoenician coastline and in Carthage. Small workshops seems to be the consensus rather than large manufacturing sites, but there is no clear evidence of either that I know of. Other sites may have included Cyprus, Egypt and Syria. The large elaborate types such as in the Christie's catalog are attributed mainly to Carthaginian sites.

The later head pendant types such as the yellow and brown faces are more likely from Rhodes and Egypt.

The mosaic face beads are thought to have come mainly from Egypt (some say Alexandria), but may also come from Syria and even European sites during the Roman empire.

Interestingly, Lankton says some very fine examples of tabular face beads were found in Ponpeii and Herculaneum, from the the time of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Large numbers of face beads have also been found along the coast of the Black Sea.

The replica beads could come from anywhere, but according to Bassem Elias, who is from Lebanon, there appears to be a rather healthy business there in repilac beads and artifacts of very good quality. Unfortunately many are of the kind not easily recognized by the average collector.

Jan Skipper
mosquitobay

could provide this many exemples of face and head beads with prices!!! Your presence on this forum si very much appreciated!!!! Your showing of these beads will help those who aspire to own beads like these know how much money, they should expect to shell out! Thank you very much!

Thanks Jan, always a pleasure to peek into your collection!

11mm and 14mm. sm

I am posting two Phoenician beads purchased three days ago from Galerie J. Kugel in Paris, where an "Hommage ŕ Nicolas Landau, Prince des Antiquaires (1887-1979)" is currently held. These beads belonged to the personal collection of Mr. Landau, classified as: Ref.-0606-777, Bird Heads. Phoenician (VI bCE/III aCE).
The one shown inmediately below is 20x20 mm., and has a broken suspension loop.

This one looks to me more like a Ram's head, but was classified as a Bird's head. It is 25,5 mm. long.

I've said this in the past, but I guess it may be time to repeat it yet again.

It seems like anytime the topic of Phoenician head pendants is brought up, and is discussed in conjunction with mosaic-glass face beads, inevitably someone is going to mix-up these names—though they are NOT interchangeable.

The older Phoenician products are called "head pendants," and "head beads." They present an entire head, of a person, animal, or being—though the emphasis may be on the facial parts, in terms of details added. Some specimens are double-faced (like Janus), but the shape still presents a head.

In contrast, the later mosaic-glass beads (and pendants) of the Roman Period (and later) are called "face beads," and "face pendants." They present ONLY the face of the person or creature depicted.

The names are useful if they are not mixed-up. But as soon as someone refers to "a Phoenician face pendant," we are lost.... And, of course, it's just as bad to say "Roman head pendant" (unless that is what the object is—since there are some).

Jamey

It is mea culpa. I will never do it again!

Now, please Jamey, we all know your teaching capacities go way beyond the topic of "correct vs. incorrect" naming: may we have your opinion focused on the beads themselves? I mean whether you think these Phoenician head pendant and bead are authentic, as descript, worth of your attention, from the period, nice, rare, pricey... -- or faked, undescript, undeserving (your)attention, newer, ugly, common, valueless...
The friend of mine that brought them from Paris -- a dealer in Tibetan and Asiatic art -- is still more ignorant on beads than myself(!). He would be equally happy selling or keeping them, but most of all would be delighted with an authorised opinion (which I cannot offer him).

Hello Nishedha,

As near as I can tell these are both very nice, authentic head bead and pendant from the Phoenician Period. I agree that the "bird" is much more likely to be a sheep or ram. One has to wonder if there were originally horns that are now missing. The demonic head is curious, because there is not much (that I know of) that can be pointed to as the inspiration for these features. But there are quite a few similar specimens documented.

Since I don't know the asking price, I can't give an opinion as to whether the price is high or not (in my Scottish opinion). I will say that I see no reason to suspect these are reproductions. They seem totally authentic--as best as can be judged from a photograph.

The one thing I hope the owner will avoid is saying that these are "pate de verre" or "glass paste" articles. That is a very typical description in France, even from knowledgeable sources that ought to know better. The beads/pendants are actually conventionally wound and trail-decorated, like the majority of glass artifacts from early times.

Jamey

Jamey

Hi Nishedha,

I was not very familiar with this type at first glance, though I have seen similar examples. In Maud Spaer's "Ancient Glass in the Israel Museum", there is a very similar example, very close in shape to your friends. She refers to the one in the museum catalog as a "Demonic Mask Pendant", possibly from the Eastern mediterranean, circa 6th to 5th century BC.

I hope that this helps.

Jan Skipper
mosquitobay

Thank you, Jan.