Antique jewelry glossary

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Leech bead

A type of glass bead in the form of a hollow cylinder that is slightly curved to resemble a leech (or boat). Such beads (or a lengthwise section of such a bead, called a 'runner') were sometimes used to cover the bow of a fibula. Some examples were made of glass in Etruria in the 7th century BC, with marvered combed decoration that produces a feather pattern.

From: An Illustrated Dictionary of Jewelry, autor: Harold Newman, publishers: Thames and Hudson