Ancient Agate Barrel Beads and Carnelian with Granulated 20k Gold Spacers

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Ancient Agate Barrel Beads and Carnelian with Granulated 20k Gold Spacers

About the Item

Twenty-three agate barrel beads alternating with twenty-four round carnelian beads. Each of these carnelian beads is faced with two gold granulated ring beads, forty-eight in total. Gold beading tips and a hook and eye clasp complete the necklace. Four of the agate barrels have the profile of Indus Valley beads (the seventh bead down from the back of the necklace and the pair facing the center bead); the two bicones meet with a distinct line in the center of the bead. The rest have a rounded transition in the middle, which is more typical of beads found to the north of the Indus Valley. These may be somewhat later, but the agate beads are contemporaneous from the Bronze Age of about four thousand years ago. The carnelian beads are more difficult to place. The flattened sphere shape is seen in many periods and places, however the large diameters of the drill holes would place them at an early date. There are two exceptions: one is a truncated bicone (5.5 mm in length - 9.5 mm wide) to the right of the center bead and the other is a five sided carnelian (5.5 mm wide, 4.5 mm in length) at the very back of the necklace on the right side. The first may be Sumerian and could be from a very early period. The second is probably later from Kushan times; about two thousand years ago. The dimensions of the agate barrels are as follows (from top left in the first photograph): 1. Length 1.22 cm, width at center 6.1 mm, width at ends 4.5 mm, hole diameter 2.5 mm. 2. Length 1.55 cm, width at center 5.5 mm, width at ends 4.5 mm, hole diameter 3 mm. 3. Length 1.11 cm, width at center 6.6 mm, width at ends 4.5 mm, hole diameter 3 mm. 4. Length 1.64 cm, width at center 6.4 mm, width at ends 4.0 mm, hole diameter 2.5 mm. 5. Length 1.50 cm, width at center 6.6 mm, width at ends 5.5 mm, hole diameter 3.3 mm. 6. Length 2.0 cm, width at center 6.8 mm, width at ends 4.5 mm, hole diameter 3.5 mm. 7. Length 2.6 mm, width at center 7.0 mm, width at ends 4.6 mm, hole diameter 3.0 mm. 8. Length 1.66 cm, width at center 8.0 mm, width at ends 5.4 mm, hole diameter 2.8 mm. 9. Length 2.05 cm, width at center 1.68 mm - 1.79 mm, width at ends 5 mm - 5.7 mm, hole diameter 3.0 mm. 10. Length 2.9 cm, width at center 8.2 mm, width at ends 5.0 mm, hole diameter 3.9 mm. 11. Length 3.2 mm, width at center 8.6 mm, width at ends 5.5 mm, hole diameter 3.5 mm. (Evidence of regrinding on the surface to remove encrustation). 12. Length 3.88 cm, width at center 9 mm, width at ends 4.8 mm, hole diameter 3.0 mm. 13. Length 3.27 mm, width at center 8.5 mm, width at ends 5.0 mm, hole diameter 3.2 mm. 14. Length 3.0 cm, width at center 8.4 mm, width at ends 5.5 mm, hole diameter 3 mm. (Whitening due to burial in alkaline soil – green stain from contact with bronze). 15. Length 2.1 cm, width at center 7.5 mm, width at ends 5.3 mm, hole diameter 2.5 mm. 16. Length 1.70 cm, width at center 7.7 mm, width at ends 5.1 mm, hole diameter 2.5 mm. 17. Length 2.21 cm, width at center 6.9 mm, width at ends 4.5 mm, hole diameter 3.5 mm. 18. Length 2.20 cm, width at center 6.8 mm, width at ends 4.5 mm, hole diameter 3.5 mm. (Green infiltration into one of the bands from contact with bronze in burial). 19. Length 1.36 cm, width at center 6.4 mm, width at ends 4.5 mm, hole diameter 3.2 mm. 20. Length 1.75 mm, width at center 6.5 mm, width at ends 4.5 mm, hole diameter 3 mm. 21. Length 1.30 mm, width at center 6.0 mm, width at ends 5.2 mm, hole diameter 3 mm. 22. Length 1.47 cm, width at center 6.0 mm, width at ends 4 mm, hole diameter 2.8 mm. 23. Length 1.35 mm, width at center 5.5 mm, width at ends 4.5 mm, hole diameter 2.0 mm. Sixteen of the largest gold ring beads have inner granulated rings, providing a hole in the very center of the opening, in order to insure that all the beads hang in a straight row. There are also very small glass beads used as fillers inside some of the agate beads that have very large holes. Ideally, all the beads have holes that are the same size and the string used that will still go through all the holes can be as large as possible. This not only makes all the beads hang properly, but it also reduces wear in the string. When the holes are not uniform, filler beads can help to make the necklace work. The necklace is 28 1/8 inches (71.2 cm) in length. The necklace weighs 65.8 grams.

Creator:
David Ebbinghouse
Metal:
Gold
Stone:
Agate,Carnelian
Stone Cut:
Bead
Weight:
65.8 g
Dimensions:
Length: 28.04 in (712 mm)
Style:
Artist
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
15th Century and Earlier
Date of Manufacture:
Unknown
Condition:
Additions or alterations made to the original: There are very small glass beads used as fillers inside some of the agate beads that have very large holes. This is to make sure that the necklace hangs properly when worn. Close up of this is pictured in the 2nd photo. Wear consistent with age and use. See description for full details on this piece.
Seller Location:
Bloomington, IN
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU2425214771612