Bead

Glass beads imported from Western Asia begin to appear in China around the 6th century B.C.E. They were highly prized for their translucency and color and were often placed in the coffins of the elite or threaded through silk cords attached to bronze mirrors. The Chinese soon produced their own, chemically distinct versions containing significant amounts of lead and barium. The protruding "eyes" were built up by dripping droplets of molten glass onto the surface.

Purchase: William Rockhill Nelson Trust