Mesopotamian Multi-colored Ancient Beads with 22k Gold Cylinders and Clasp

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Mesopotamian Multi-colored Ancient Beads with 22k Gold Cylinders and Clasp

About the Item

The idea of alternating gold beads with an equal number of round and barrel-shaped beads made of a variety of colored stones comes from our appreciation of the jewelry of Susa in the Achaemenid Period (4th century B.C.). Susa (biblical Shushan) lay at the edge of the Iranian plateau, not far from the great cities of Mesopotamia. It absorbed both Akkadian and Babylonian influences through booty from conquests in Mesopotamia. Treasures from the royal city of Susa can be viewed in the Louvre. This necklace features fifty-five multi-colored ancient stone beads alternating with 22k gold cylinder beads. Twenty-seven of the stone beads are long barrel-shaped beads and twenty-eight ate small spherical agate beads. Eighteen of the barrel-shaped beads are agate, seven are carnelian and four are lapis lazuli. The barrel-shaped beads graduate in size towards the back of the necklace. The center bead is 3 cm in length, 6 mm in width at the center, and 3.5 mm in width at the ends. The drill hole perforation is 2 mm in diameter. The next agate beads are oblate spheres, 3.5 mm in length, 4.5 mm in width and with a drill hole diameter of 2 mm. The round beads graduate towards the back of the necklace, the smallest being 3.5 mm in length and 4 mm in width. The agate barrel bead to the left of center in the photograph, (it is dark brown with white banding) is 1.6 cm in length, 5.9 mm in width at the center and 3 mm in width at the ends. The drill hole diameter is 1.8 mm. The next barrel-shaped bead to the left is a lapis lazuli bead slightly flattened on two opposite sides, 1.8 cm in length, 4.8 mm in width (the flattened sides), 6.2 mm in width at the center, and 4 mm in width at the ends. The drill hole diameter is 2.5 mm. Next is a straight agate cylinder 1.3 cm in length, 4.5 mm in width and with a drill hole diameter of 2 mm. Following that is an agate barrel-shaped bead 1.1 cm in length, 5 mm in width at the center, 3.5 mm in width at the ends and with a drill hole diameter of 2 mm. Next is a more rounded barrel-shaped agate bead 9 mm in length, 5 mm in width at the center and 3.8 mm in width at the ends. The drill hole diameter is 2 mm. Following is a bi-conical lapis lazuli bead 9 mm in length, 4.5 mm in width at the center and 3 mm in width at the ends. The drill hole diameter is 2.5 mm. The next bead is a bi-conical carnelian bead 9 mm in length, 5 mm in width at the center, and 3.9 mm in width at the ends. The drill hole diameter is 1.8 mm. Following is an agate barrel-shaped bead 5.3 mm in length, 4 mm in width and with a drill hole diameter of 2 mm. Next is a bi-conical carnelian bead, 1.1 cm in length, 4.2 mm in width at the center, and 2.2 mm in width at the ends. The drill hole is 1 mm in diameter. Next is an agate barrel-shaped bead 7 mm in length, 3.8 mm in width, and with a drill hole diameter of 1 mm. Following is a carnelian barrel-shaped bead 6 mm in length, 4 mm in width, with a drill hole diameter of 1.5 mm. The carnelian has been artificially patterned with two white bands encircling it (so called “etched” carnelian, a misnomer that has stuck). Next is a carnelian cylindrical bead 9 mm in length, 3.4 mm in width and with a drill hole diameter of 1 mm. The final bead on this side is an agate barrel-shaped bead 6.1 mm in length, 4 mm in width and with a drill hole diameter of 1 mm. There are thirteen barrel-shaped agates on the right side of the necklace. The first one to the right of the center bead is 1.4 cm in length, 6 mm in width at the center, 4 mm in width at the ends, and has a drill hole diameter of 2.8 mm. The next agate barrel bead to the back is 1.82 cm in length, 5 mm - 5.5 mm in width at the center (it is slightly flattened in shape) and 3 mm in width at the ends. The hole diameter is 1.8 mm. The third bead back from the center is a banded barrel-shaped agate bead 1.3 mm in length, 5 mm in width at the center, 3.3 mm in width at the ends. Next is a bi-conical lapis lazuli bead, 1.05 cm in length, 5 mm in width at the center and 3.5 mm in width at the ends. The hole diameter is 2.5 mm. Following this is a barrel-shaped agate bead, 1 cm in length, 5 mm in width at the center and 3.5 mm in width at the ends. The drill hole diameter is 1.2 mm. Next there is a bi-conical lapis lazuli bead, 8.5 mm in length, 4.8 mm in width at the center and 3.2 mm in width at the ends. The drill hole diameter is 2.8 mm. Next is a barrel-shaped carnelian bead with white banding, 7.3 mm in length, 5 mm in width at the center, 4 mm in width at the ends, and with a drill hole diameter of 2.8 mm. Following that is a bi-conical agate bead, 9 mm in length, 4.5 mm in width at the center and 3 mm in width at the ends. The drill hole is 2 mm in diameter. The next bead is a barrel-shaped carnelian bead with a quartz zone on one end, 1.2 cm in length, 4.3 mm in width at the center, and 3 mm in length at the ends. The drill hole diameter is 1.8 mm. Following is a barrel-shaped agate bead, black with white on one end, 6 mm in length, 4 mm in width and 3.5 mm in width at the ends. The drill hole is 1.6 mm. The next barrel-shaped agate bead is a clear quartz and opaque white half and half, 5.5 mm in length, 8.5mm in width with a drill hole diameter of 1.2 mm. Following is a carnelian barrel-shaped bead 7.8 mm in length, 4mm in width with a drill hole diameter of 1 mm. The final barrel shaped bead is a dark agate with three white band 6.2 mm in length, 32 mm in width and with a drill hole diameter of 1 mm. The necklace is 26 ¾ inches (68 cm) in length. The necklace weighs 24 grams.

Creator:
David Ebbinghouse
Metal:
22k Gold
Stone:
Agate,Carnelian,Lapis Lazuli
Stone Cut:
Bead
Weight:
24 g
Dimensions:
Length: 26.78 in (680 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: LU2425214708472