Ancient Agate and Milky Quartz Rhombus Beads with 20k Gold Disc Beads and Clasp

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Ancient Agate and Milky Quartz Rhombus Beads with 20k Gold Disc Beads and Clasp

About the Item

Twenty-seven quartz rhomboid tabular beads alternating with 20k gold “winged“ disc tabular beads. Gold beading tips and a hook and eye clasp complete the necklace. The winged discs are 7.5 mm in length and 9.2 mm in width in the center and graduate to the back decreasing in size to 5 mm in length and 7 mm in width. The flat agate beads are from the Bronze Age and have a consistent form: they are either a symmetrical rhombus – a diamond shape, or an elongated rhombus with one end up to 50% longer. They are almost always bisected across the points with one side being opaque white and the other end being transparent quartz. When one end is elongated, it is the transparent end. If the bead is an agate with carnelian and clear transparent quartz, again, it is the elongated end that is transparent. This is clearly an intentional effect with some kind of symbolic referent and meaning, but it is lost to us in time. Although these beads have sometimes been referred to as “butterfly” beads, it seems doubtful to us that this is the meaning. The beads are about four thousand years old. Beads of this form were also present in ancient Mesopotamia. The dimensions of the agates are as follows (starting on the side with the hook element of the clasp): 1. Length 7.7 mm, width 8 mm, thickness 3.2 mm, hole diameter 1.8 mm. 2. Length 9.5 mm, width 8 mm, thickness 8 mm, hole diameter 1.9 mm. A gold tube has been inserted to correct a chip at the drill hole. Elongated form. 3. Length 7.8 mm, width 9.5 mm, thickness 3.5 mm, hole diameter 1.7 mm. 4. Length 9 mm, width 8.8 mm, thickness 3 mm, hole diameter 1.8 mm. 5. Length 9.5 mm, width 9.5 m. thickness 3.5 mm, hole diameter 1.3 mm. A dark band separates the opaque white from the transparent quartz half. The sides are slightly in curving. 6. Length 9.2 mm, 9.5 mm, thickness 3.5 mm, hole diameter 1.4 mm. Whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. A milky white band across the points. Slightly elongated form. 7. Length 1.1 cm, width 8.5 mm, thickness 3.9 mm, hole diameter 2 mm. This trapezoidal form is proportionally the same as many of the large ancient agate beads. There is an opaque white7. central band- the ends are transparent quartz. 8. Length 1 cm, width 8.2 mm, thickness 8 mm, hole diameter 1.8 mm. Elongated form. Whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. A dark band separates the two zones. 9. Length 1 cm, width 1 cm, thickness 3.1 mm, hole diameter 2.5 mm. Elongated form. A gold tube has been inserted to correct a chip at the drill hole. 10. Length 1.09 cm, width 9.4 mm, thickness 4.1 mm, hole diameter 2 mm. Slightly elongated form. A gold tube has been inserted to correct a chip at the drill hole. 11. Length 1.26 mm, width 1 cm, thickness 3.4 mm, hole diameter 2 mm. Transparent quartz with pale banding from point to point. Elongated form. A gold tube has been inserted to correct a chip at the drill hole. 12. Length 1.2 cm, width 1.05 mm, thickness 3.5 mm, hole diameter 1.8 mm. Whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. Elongated form. A gold tube has been inserted at the drill hole. The sides are slightly in curving. 13. Length 1.6 cm, width 9.5 mm, thickness 3.2 mm, hole diameter 1.9 mm. Elongated form. Gold tubes have been inserted to correct for chips at the drill holes. 14. Length 1.3 cm, width 1.15 cm, thickness 4.2 mm, hole diameter 2 mm. Gold tubes have been inserted in the drill holes to correct for slight chipping. Whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. One of the points is slightly chipped on what was originally a perfectly symmetrical trapezoid. (Compare the proportions to No. 7.). 15. Length 1.6 cm , width 1.05 cm, thickness 4 mm, hole diameter 2.3 mm. Elongated form. Gold tubes have been inserted to correct for chipping at the drill hole. 16. Length 1.21 cm, width 1.05 cm, thickness 3.7 mm, hole diameter 2 mm. Elongated form. A gold tube has been inserted to correct a chip at the drill hole. The sides are slightly in curving. (Compare with No. 12.). 17. Length 1 cm, width 1 cm, thickness 4 mm, hole diameter 2 mm. A slight chip on one point. 18. Length 1.15 cm, width 9.1 mm, thickness 3.6 mm, hole diameter1 2 mm. Transparent quartz on one half – very thin white lines spaced closely together on the other half. 19. Length 3.5 mm, width 1.03 mm, thickness 3.8 mm, hole diameter 2.2 mm. Two parallel white lines enclose a band of transparent quartz at the center. 20. Length 1.01cm, width 9.9 mm, thickness 3.5 mm, hole diameter 2.2 mm. Slightly elongated form. A gold tube has been inserted to correct a chip at the drill hole. 21. Length 9.1 mm, width 9.9 mm, thickness 3.6 mm, hole diameter 2 mm. Elongated form. 22. Length 1.03 cm, width 9 mm, thickness 3.4 mm, hole diameter 2 mm. Elongated form. Whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. A gold tube has been inserted to correct a chip at the drill hole. 23. Length 9.3 mm, width 9 mm, thickness3.5 mm, hole diameter 1.9 mm. A shallow chip out of one face. Whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. 24. Length 3.2 mm, width 9.8 mm, thickness 3.3 mm, hole diameter 2 mm. Transparent quartz with a white line from point to point. 25. Length 8.3 mm, width 9 mm, thickness 3.3 mm, hole diameter 2 mm. A gold tube has been inserted to correct for chipping at the drill hole. 26. Length 9 mm, width 8.8 mm, thickness 3.1 mm, hole diameter 1.7 mm. Elongated form. 27. Length 9.2 mm, width 7.1 mm, thickness 3 mm, hole diameter 1.8 mm. Elongated form. A gold tube has been inserted to correct a chip at the drill hole. The necklace is 20 ¼ inches (52.5 cm) in length. The necklace weighs 21.8 grams.

Creator:
David Ebbinghouse
Metal:
Gold
Stone:
Agate,Quartz
Stone Cut:
Bead
Weight:
21.8 g
Dimensions:
Length: 20.24 in (514 mm)
Style:
Artist
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
15th Century and Earlier
Date of Manufacture:
Unknown
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. See description for complete details. The stone beads in this piece are ancient and the goldwork is modern, done by our expert goldsmith, Michael Winsten, to enhance the beauty of the ancient beads.
Seller Location:
Bloomington, IN
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU2425214563102