Ancient Chalcedony Barrel Beads, 20k Gold, and Lapis with Rhombus Center Bead

View Similar Items

Ancient Egyptian Beads Necklace in 20K Yellow Gold with 5.95 Carat Diamonds

Large and Round Lapis Lazuli Beads and Gold Beads Necklace

A.Jeschel Polished Chalcedony beads necklace with a signature clasp.

.75 Carat Diamond Chalcedony Sapphire White Gold Bead Necklace

Syna Lapis Lazuli Yellow Gold Bead Necklace

Tracey Designs Navajo Lapis Lazuli Beads, Gold and Enamel Necklace

Lapis Lazuli, Chalcedony, Gold Beaded Necklace by Bombyx House

Millefiori Murano Glass Bead Necklace with Barrel Clasp

Lapis Lazuli and 18K Gold Beaded Necklace by Deborah Lockhart Phillips

Faceted Lapis Lazuli and Sterling Silver Beaded Necklace

Lapis Lazuli Barrel Shaped Beaded Necklace with Yellow Gold Accents, 22 Inches

Barrel Shaped Lapis Lazuli Beaded Necklace with Yellow Gold Accents, 24 Inches

1 of 4

Ancient Chalcedony Barrel Beads, 20k Gold, and Lapis with Rhombus Center Bead

About the Item

Thirty agate barrel beads with a rhombus agate bead at the center. The beads are all banded with transparent quartz and opaque white quartz. The center bead is striking with bands that extend through the transparent quartz giving almost a moire effect when seen in depth. The agate beads alternate with cylindrical beads of lapis lazuli. All the beads are spaced by sixty-eight 20k gold ring beads. There are gold beading tips and a hook and eye clasp which complete the necklace. The center bead is 2.5 cm in length, 2.2 cm at the widest point and 1.6 cm wide at the ends. It is 6 mm in thickness and the diameter of the drill hole is 4 mm. It is from the Bronze Age and is around four thousand years old. The bead has unusual optical qualities, a kind of moire effect caused by the thin bands that go all the way through the bead being seen at slightly different angles by each of our two eyes simultaneously. All the agate barrel beads but the two at the very back of the necklace have large drill holes indicating they are around four thousand years old. The two small beads are probably two thousand years old. The smallest of the Bronze Age beads are 7 mm in length, 5 mm wide at the center, 3.6 mm at the ends and having a drill hole diameter of 3 mm. Some are nearly straight tubes (the first bead to the left of the center bead in the photograph) - length of 2.3 cm, width at the center of 6.3 mm and width at the end of 5.2 mm. The drill hole is 2.8 mm. Some are more sharply tapered (first bead to the right) - length of 1.68 cm, width at center 1.7 cm, width at the end 4 mm, diameter of drill hole 3 mm. The second, third and fourth beads back from the center beads all have similar proportions (third back from center on left) - 1.75 cm in length, 8.2 mm at the center, 5 mm at the ends with a drill hole diameter of 3.3 mm. The fifth and seventh beads from the center have the same proportions being shorter: (fifth from right) length 9.5 mm, width at center 6.2 mm, end width 5 mm, hole diameter, 3 mm. (seventh from right) length 1.13 mm, center width 6 mm, end width 4.5 mm, hole diameter 3.2 mm. The eighth bead from the center on both sides are also similar short barrel beads. There are thirty-six lapis lazuli beads in the necklace. Most are plain cylinders of various lengths; there is a cornerless cube type, a rectangular solid as well as tapered barrel shapes. They graduate in diameter from 6 mm down to 3.5 mm. They vary in length from 10 mm to 3.5 mm. The beading tips are gold cylinders with flattened wire straps that attach around the open end. These are the attachment points for the hook and eye clasp. The cylinders are pierced through the closed end. This allows the knots at the end of the cords to be hidden within and provides the transition from the cord on which the beads are strung to the hook and eye clasp. The necklace is 27 5/8 inches (70.16 cm) in length. The necklace weighs 49.5 grams.

Creator:
David Ebbinghouse
Metal:
Gold
Stone:
Agate,Chalcedony,Lapis Lazuli
Stone Cut:
Bead
Weight:
49.5 g
Dimensions:
Length: 27.63 in (701.6 mm)
Style:
Artist
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
15th Century and Earlier
Date of Manufacture:
Unknown
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. All of the stone beads in this piece are ancient. The goldwork is modern and was done by our expert goldsmith, Michael Winsten, to enhance the beauty of the ancient beads.
Seller Location:
Bloomington, IN
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU2425214867182