Pearls of Wisdom: The Arts of Islam at the University of Michigan

Colorful glass jewelry was produced for hundreds of years before the advent of Islam, especially during the Roman period. Therefore, dating such objects is difficult since the technology and designs changed very little over time. These bangles were made from threads of colored glass that were softened, twisted, and combined in various ways in order to create different patterns. They come in many sizes, suggesting that both adults and children wore them. Alternatively, they may have been worn on different parts of the body, such as the wrist or upper arm.

Bibliography: Carboni 1994; Jenkins 1986, 55; Spaer 1992; and Scanlon 2002.