Transparent aquamarine glass appearing opaque with applied transparent deep blue glass, opaque yellow and opaque white glass; core-formed with trailed and tooled decoration. Large pendant bead in the shape of a bearded head, buff core with applied loop on top, face modeled in opaque yellow, eyes lined with deep blue, eyebrows and curls across top of head and vertically ribbed beard of same glass, lips in opaque yellow applied over beard, jewelry highlights of opaque white in center of forehead and above and below ear.

From the seventh to third or second centuries B.C., a broad range of glass head pendants was produced. Traditionally, these objects have been attributed to Phoenician glassmakers, based on the large numbers of finds in or near that region. The pendants were made in such forms as bearded male heads, demonic masks, and rams’ heads. Glassmakers wound hot glass around the end of a metal rod coated with a separating agent. Details were fashioned with blobs and trails of colored glass. A suspension ring was added at the top so that the pendants could be strung together as necklaces or used individually. At least 10 different types of heads are known, but the similarity of their manufacture suggests a common origin. Because these pendants were widely distributed, scholars are divided on where they were made.