English: A small melon type glass polychromatic bead of early Medieval (Frankish) period c late.6th Century.

The bead is globular in form with six ribs. It is primary made of pale blue green glass, the glass is of very high quality being very translucent with only small air bubbles within it. This would suggest being made by a highly quality craftsman. The bead has been decorated with strands of coloured glass applied to the outer surface similar to enamaling. The colours applied are shades of red, yellow and white.

There is a small patch of damage on the bead most likley caused by movement in the plough soil, this is a chip to the surface and confirms the decoration is applied to the surface.

The bead measures 20mm diameter, is 15mm high and weighs 6.5 grams

From Birgitta Hoffman (specialistr in Roman and Anglo-Saxon Glass Beads

The number of ribs makes this Anglo-Saxon/Frankish. Birth Brugmann dates the monochrome examples, of which there are many to her period A2b (c.530-580). The polychrome examples are much rarer and we're not covered by her study. There is one with the same colour combination but different trailing in the BM from Mucking Grave 334. Traditionally dated 2nd half 5th century.

Ref: Birth Brugmann 2004, Glass Beads from Early Anglo-Saxon Graves. Oxford:Oxbow

M.Guido & M.Welch 1999, The Glass Beads of Anglo-Saxon England c. AD400-700. p.169 type 1ix