Definitely getting old... forgot to mention that the bead is 5 cm long and 1 cm in diameter.
This looks similar to some "etched" carnelian copies which I bought in the early 90s in Tehran. I bought them as presents also. Here are a couple of almost useless photos that I scanned into my computer files a long time ago. The pattern, imitating ancient carnelians, was incised into the stone and filled with paste. The lines frequently extend beyond the edge of the pattern. It was a technique that was used in ancient times throughout Asia by artisans and communities that didn't know the chemical formula for producing the "etched" effect, or, more rarely, for reproducing it on other stone surfaces such as amethyst.
If the Peter Francis bead is glass rather than stone, a further stage of imitation was involved. I'm not sure when these copies of ancient etched beads started to be made in Iran, though I think I have heard that some appeared as early as the nineteenth century. I imagine there must be something about them in Asia's Maritime Bead Trade but I don't have it with me as I write.
I've never seen a glass one before, but the carnelians are common and quite pretty. Ali would know more about them than I do, I'm sure.
Hi There
As an iranian i have to say all this kind og beads comes from Pakistan. I don't know about 70
But all iranian etched carnelian that i seen were pendants and ring stones from 18 and 19 century. I have an Iranian book which point to the art last masters during 1950. But just for pendants with religious names and rings.never a bead.when i put those carnelians and etched agates close together it's very clear even the kind of stone seems different. I am not surprised if Pakistan and Afghanistan make any declare about persian glass and ceramic beads as Pyshavar bazar in Pakistan and kabul bazar are full by ancient persian beads.even kind of ceramic or glass beads which you can see just in a certain part of the country not in the rest parts.last week we met some guys with
Suspect glass and ceramic and etched carnelians. I asked him where these come from. He replied Jeroft in south east iran.i said i think these are from Nymruz a rich province in ancient beads in Afghanistan. The guy was shocked and asked if I have been there.i said no but i can smell repros.so i think very soon we need carbon test for dating all beads which looks ancient.
Sorry discusión became long.
I am agree with Will about age of these beads but 90 percent sure they are not made in iran.
Best wishes
Thanks Will and Ali. I suspected as much but wanted to be sure before I informed the family since the nephew (who is 7 years old) had written a short school essay on this bead passed on to him from his great uncle, "the world’s leading bead professional." The lad believed the bead was "thousands of years old!" I really don't want to disillusion the lad, but he needs to learn that you have to do research before you write about beads (or anything). Hopefully this bead will lead him to a lifelong interest in beads.
A friend asked me to post these & get feedback.