Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c11.s4.8

v1.c11.s4.8

The etched carnelian beads are rare at Mohenjo-Daro, and Mackay found only four of it. The rareness of this bead naturally led to the manufacture of imitations, and often a bead made of steatite or of steatite paste was coated with a thick red slip, leaving white lines to represent the white designs on the genuine etched beads. These imitation beads probably deceived no one though there was often a cleverly made high polish giving almost a translucent appearance to the red slip. (MCK, 507)