Ancient Sardonyx Rhombus Beads with 24k Granulated Gold Ring Beads and Clasp

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Ancient Sardonyx Rhombus Beads with 24k Granulated Gold Ring Beads and Clasp

About the Item

Thirty-five rhomboid tabular sardonyx/agate beads alternating with pairs of granulated gold ring beads. Gold beading tips and a hook and eye clasp complete the necklace. The gold is 24k. The agate is composed of transparent and opaque white quartz and translucent orange carnelian. Due to burial in alkaline soil, there has been an addition of an opaque flat white color, caused by a chemical reaction over a long period of time. Differences in the density and porosity of the layers in the agate results in an uneven and sometimes splotchy addition of flat opaque white to the surface. 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 or orange 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 7.2 mm, width 8.6 mm, thickness 2.5 mm, hole diameter 1.5 mm. Whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. 2. Length 8 mm, width 9 mm, thickness 3.2 mm, hole diameter 1.5 mm. Elongated form. Slight whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. 3. Length 8.5 mm, width 8.9 mm, thickness 2.5 mm, hole diameter 1.5 mm. A gold tube has been inserted to correct a chip at the drill hole. 4. Length 9.2 mm, width 9 mm, thickness 3 mm, hole diameter 1.5 mm. Whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. 5. Length 9 mm, width 8.5 mm, thickness 3 mm, hole diameter 1.5 mm. Slight whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. 6. Length 9 mm, width 9.1 mm, thickness 3 mm, hole diameter 1.5 mm. Whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. 7. Length 8 mm, width 9.6 mm, thickness 3.4 mm, hole diameter 1.6 mm. Some whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. 8. Length 9 mm, width 9.5 mm, thickness 3 mm, hole diameter 1.6 mm. Whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. The carnelian half on one side is white with an orange tint. 9. Length 9 mm, width 9.2 mm, thickness 3.3 mm, hole diameter 1.7 mm. Some whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. 10. Length 1.04 mm, width 9.9 mm, Thickness 2.7 mm, hole diameter 2.1 mm. Whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. The carnelian half is white with an orange tint. 11. Length 9.9 mm, width 1.02 cm, thickness 3.1 mm, hole diameter 2 mm. Some whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. 12. Length 1.05 cm. Width 8.8 mm, thickness 2.8 mm, hole diameter 2 mm. Elongated form. A gold tube has been inserted to correct a chip at the drill hole. Natural color. 13. Length 1.14 cm, width 9.2 mm, thickness 3 mm, hole diameter 2.1 mm. Whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. 14. Length 1 cm, width 1.12 mm, thickness 3.2 mm, hole diameter 1.5 mm. Some whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. 15. Length 1.32 mm, width 1.08 cm, thickness 3.1 mm, hole diameter 1.5 mm. Some whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. 16. Length 1.01 cm, width 1.12 cm, thickness 3.3 cm, hole diameter 2 mm. Whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. 17. Length 1.5 cm, width 1.3 cm, thickness 4.2 mm, hole diameter 3 mm. Elongated form. Whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. The carnelian end is white with an orange tint. 18. Length 1.3 mm, width 1.21 mm, thickness 3.8 mm, hole diameter 2.8 mm. Whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. The carnelian is affected in the center. 19. Length 1.48 mm, width 1.3 cm, thickness 4 mm, hole diameter 2.7 mm. Whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. The carnelian is affected in the center. 20. Length 1.05 mm, width 1.1 cm, thickness 3.5 mm, hole diameter 2.2 mm. Some whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. 21. Length 1.32 cm, width 1.16 mm, thickness 3.5 mm, hole diameter 2.5 mm. Whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. A gold tube has been inserted to correct a chip at the drill hole. 22. Length 1.21 cm, width 1.05 cm, thickness 3.4 mm, hole diameter 1.5 mm. Whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. The quartz end is whitened and some of the carnelian in the center. 23. Length 1.2 cm, width 9.9 mm, thickness 3.4 mm, hole diameter 2.2 mm. Whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. 24. Length 1 cm, width 1.05 cm, thickness 3.4 mm, hole diameter 2 mm. A gold tube has been inserted to correct a chip at the drill hole. Some whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. 25. Length 9.5 mm, width 9.4 mm, thickness 3.2 mm, hole diameter 2 mm. Natural color. 26. Length 9 mm, width 9.5 mm, thickness 3.2 mm, hole diameter 2 mm. Some whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. 27. Length 9 mm, width 1.1 cm, thickness 2.9 mm, hole diameter 1.2 mm. Whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. The carnelian side is white with an orange tint. 28. Length 8.4 mm, width 9 mm, thickness 3 mm, hole diameter 1.8 mm. Whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. 29. Length 9.1 mm, width 1 cm, thickness 3.2 mm, hole diameter 1.3 mm. Whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. 30. Length 9 mm, width 9 mm, thickness 3.1 mm, hole diameter 1.4 mm. Whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. 31. Length 8.9 mm, width 9 mm, thickness 3 mm, hole diameter 1.3 mm. Slightly elongated form. Natural color. 32. Length 8.1 mm, width 9.4 mm, thickness 3 mm, hole diameter 1.4 mm. Some whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. 33. Length 7.7 mm, width 9 mm, thickness 3.1 mm, hole diameter 1.2 mm. Natural color. 34. Length 7.2 mm, width 8.4 mm, thickness 3 mm, hole diameter 1.2 mm. Whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. The necklace is 18 9/16 inches (47 cm) in length. The necklace weighs 20.2 grams.

Creator:
David Ebbinghouse
Metal:
24k Gold
Stone:
Agate
Stone Cut:
Bead
Weight:
20.2 g
Dimensions:
Length: 18.51 in (470 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 full details. The stone beads in this piece are all ancient, the gold 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: LU2425214563332