Hiberno-Norse bead (Type A-4)

Made with transparent cobalt-blue glass with white and yellow glass as accent colours, these beads are based on Irish beads of the 8-9th century displayed in the British Museum.  There were several bead styles ranging from the basic barrel-shape in cobalt accented with twisted white and blue glass cane applied at the rims, to more elaborate applications of twisted blue and white cane and raised dots in blue and white or yellow.

The more complex type, which we have designated as 'Type A-4' is a plain barrel of cobalt blue similar in shape and size to the 'Type A', with end decoration of blue and white twisted cane applied around the edges and accented by a more complex arrangement of a series of raised glass dots in twisted blue and white glass cane and individual yellow dots than the A-2 and A-3 types.

The beads have been made on a 2.2mm mandrel.  Each bead is individually hand-crafted and no two beads will be identical.  They measure approximately 12-14mm in diameter and 22-25mm long.  The photograph shows several beads in the 'A-4' type.  The price is per individual bead.

More styles are available, in the 'Viking-era Beads' section of the shop.