Four Thousand Year Old Tabular and Barrel Agate Beads with Round Gold Beads

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Four Thousand Year Old Tabular and Barrel Agate Beads with Round Gold Beads

About the Item

A massive necklace of nine large flat agate beads and ten tapered agate barrel beads alternating with round collared gold beads. The collars are encircled with fine granulation. The beading tips are hemispherical cups, also bordered with granulation, to which is attached a round strap of flattened wire, each of these attaching to a hook and eye clasp. The agate beads are large: the center bead is 3.5 cm wide, 4.25 cm in length, and 1.22 cm in thickness. The overall shape is elliptical; the top and bottom surfaces taper towards the edges. The ends are slightly squared off to give a flat surface for the hole. The drill hole is 3mm in diameter. There is some chipping at the shoulders of the drill hole. Gold tubes have been inserted into the holes to facilitate stringing so the bead will hang properly. There is slight whitening on the surface from being buried in alkaline soil for an extended period of time. The next pair of flat beads are rectangular with rounded corners. The larger (right side of the photograph) is 3.05 cm wide, 3.3 cm in length, and 1 cm in thickness. The diameter of the drill hole is 4.5 mm. A white layer in the banding is striking and contrasts with a dark layer to emphasize the pattern. There is evidence of regrinding on the surface on both sides. The bead is symmetrical about the axis of the bead hole; it is wider on one end. The corresponding bead on the other side of the necklace is 2.5 cm wide, 3.2 cm in length, and 9 mm thick. It shows evidence of regrinding on the surfaces of both sides. One of the drill holes has suffered a chip in the side; a gold tube has been inserted to facilitate string so the bead will hang properly. Back from this (left side of photograph) is a flat bead that is also a rectangle with rounded corners. It is 2.95 cm wide, 2.18 cm in length and 1 cm in thickness. The drill hole is 4mm in diameter. Two thirds of the bead is translucent quartz with thin white bands running through. Its opposite in the necklace (right side of the photograph) is an elliptical shaped bead with slightly brownish quartz shot through with bright white banding. It is 2.5 cm wide, 2.6 cm in length, and 8.3mm in thickness. There is evidence of regrinding on both surfaces and the hole is chipped. A gold tube has been inserted to allow the bead to hang properly. The next bead back (second from back, right side of photograph), is 2.16 cm in width, 1.9 cm in length and 1.05 cm in thickness. The diameter of the drill hole is 3mm. The bead is clear quartz with a central band from side to side. The band has three sections with the outer bands being a brighter white. The ends are squared off and the top and bottom surfaces taper towards the edges. The bead on the opposite side of the necklace (second from back, left side of the photograph), is similarly shaped, an oval with the hole going through the narrow axis. It has a front and back; the front is more domed and the back is more flat. It is also clear quartz, with concentric banding around a central zone. One end has been chipped around the hole and a gold tube has been inserted to facilitate stringing. It is 2.3 cm wide, 1.88 cm in length and 9.3 mm in thickness. The hole diameter is 4.5mm. The last bead on the left is similarly shaped. An oval with the drill hole passing trough the narrow axis: 2.15 cm in width, 1.85 cm in length and 8.3 mm in thickness. The diameter of the drill hole is 4mm. It has very attractive transparent quartz, black, gray and white banding. The bead to the back on the opposite side is 2.1 cm in width, 2 cm in length, and 6mm in thickness. The diameter of the drill hole is 3.3mm. It is also symmetrical about the axis of the bead's hole; it is more rounded at the shoulders on one end and more squared off on the other. It is transparent quartz with some brown layers; one third of the bead is a milky opaque white. The tapered agate barrel beads have the following dimensions (starting from the smallest at the upper left):(1.) 4 mm in length, 5.6 mm wide at the center, 4mm wide at ends, diameter of drill hole, 2mm. Translucent, gray color. (2.) 1.73cm in length, width 7.5mm at center, 4mm at ends, diameter of drill hole, 3mm on one end, 2.5mm on the other end. Opaque white on one end, gray quartz and brown on end. (3.) 1.85 cm in length, 8 mm at the center, 5 mm at the ends, diameter of the drill hole is 3mm. White with longitudinal banding. (The bead has the central ridge where the two planes meet that is typical of beads from the Indus valley). (4.) 2 cm in length, 7.5mm at the center, 5.5 mm wide at the ends, diameter of drill hole 3.25 mm. White banding in transparent quartz around a zone with concentric banding. (5.) 2.15 cm in length, width 9mm at the center, 5.6 mm at the ends, diameter of drill hole 3mm. (6.) 2 cm length, width 8 mm, 6mm at the ends, diameter of drill hole 2 mm. Translucent quartz with pale white banding forming thins stripes along the length of the bead. (7.) 2.18n cm in length, width 8.8 mm at the center, 5 mm at the ends, diameter of the drill hole 2.75mm. A gold tube has been inserted to correct for some chipping around the hole on one end. Transparent quartz ends with white banding. There is gray banding around a zone of translucent quartz. (8.) 1.92 cm in length, width 7.5 mm at the center, 4.5 mm at the ends, diameter of drill hole 3mm. Translucent quartz, some whitening due to burial in alkaline soil. The bead has the Indus profile as does (3.), its opposite in the necklace. (9.) 1.45 cm in length, width at center 7.5 mm, at ends5 mm, diameter of drill hole 3mm. Opaque white on one half, translucent white on the other. (10.) 1.55 cm in length, width at center 6mm, 4mm at the ends, diameter of drill hole 3mm. The agates are all Bronze Age. The large holes are diagnostic for an age of about four thousand years ago. There are eighteen round gold beads with collars. The collars are are decorated with granulation. The beads are 1.05 cm in diameter and 1.14 cm in length. There are two small 6mm gold beads facing the central agate. The beading tips are hemispherical cups with a border of granulation around the hole for the cord. A flattened gold wire forms a straps that are attached to the rims of the cups. These are attached to a hook and eye clasp.

Creator:
David Ebbinghouse
Metal:
Gold
Stone:
Agate
Stone Cut:
Bead
Weight:
138.6 g
Dimensions:
Length: 26.5 in (673 mm)
Style:
Artist
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
15th Century and Earlier
Date of Manufacture:
2014
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. All stones are beads from the Bronze Age (approximately 4,000 years ago) and all of the goldwork is contemporary - in order to enhance the beauty of the ancient beads.
Seller Location:
Bloomington, IN
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU2425213759232

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