Ensemble of Ancient Agate Bead Necklaces, 22k Granulated Gold Beads, and Clasp

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Ensemble of Ancient Agate Bead Necklaces, 22k Granulated Gold Beads, and Clasp

About the Item

An ensemble of three ancient agate bead necklaces - made to be worn together. The first necklace is of thirty small agate barrel beads and three larger flat agate beads the center being a “bow” bead. These three are capped on the ends with gold and there are sixteen flared gold tubes and ten double granulated ring beads spacing the stone beads. There is a very small granulated ring bead spacing the ends of the gold caps from the agate bead next to it. Gold beading tips provide the loops for attachment to an “S” hook, the center of which has been decorated with three rings, two made of granulation. The agate barrel beads are 5 mm to 8 mm in length and 3 mm to 5mm in diameter. The flat agate beads at the sides are 2 cm and 2.15 cm in length. They are 8 mm in width at the center, and have a thickness of 5 mm. The “bow” bead is 2.2 cm in length, 1.18 cm in width and 4 mm in thickness. The hole diameters are 2 mm. The colors are light brown, opaque white and transparent quartz. These beads are approximately two thousand years old. The necklace is 16 ¾ inches (38 cm) in length. The necklace weighs 15.3 grams. The second necklace is of thirty-six small agate barrel beads and three larger flat agate beads, the center being a “bow” bead. The stone beads are spaced with gold beads: there are eight flared tube beads, forty-eight granulated ring beads, and six three layer beads with eighteen granules in each bead. Gold beading tips provide the loops for attachment to an “S” hook, the center of which has been decorated with three rings, the center made of granulation. The small agate barrel beads are 4 mm in length and 3.3 mm in diameter with drill holes diameters of 1 mm. Longer barrels are from 7.5 mm to 8.3 mm in length with diameters of 3mm. The long tapered flat beads at the sides of the necklace are 2 cm in length, 7.8 mm and 8.3 mm in width at the center, end widths of 4 mm, and thickness of 4mm and 5mm. The drill hole diameters are 2mm. The center “bow” bead is 3.9 cm in length. The overall height is 1.95 cm, the height of the center section is 1.7 cm. It is 3.8 mm in thickness. The drill hole diameter is 1.8 mm. The colors are light brown, opaque white and transparent quartz. The photograph shows the back of the bow bead which has slight whitening due to exposure to alkaline soil. These beads are approximately two thousand years old. The necklace is 16 9/16 inches (42.5 cm) in length. The necklace weighs 16.2 grams. The third necklace is of thirty-two small agate barrel beads, four larger flattened tapered agate beads and an agate "bow" bead. The bow bead has been drilled through at the bottom and a tear drop shaped agate drop has been suspended from a decorated double loop of gold wire. The small agate barrel beads are alternating with flared gold tubes. The larger flat agate beads are faced with double layer six granule ring beads. The gold loop is decorated with a three layer granulated bead. Gold beading tips provide the attachment points for a double hook clasp. The clasp is decorated with a slightly domed roundel with a border of grains around the circumference. The small agate barrel beads are 6mm to 6.9 mm in length. They are 4 mm in diameter. The drill hole diameters are 1.7 mm. At the back of the necklace are fourteen very small tapered agate tube beads of delicate proportion: they are 5mm to 6mm in length, 2.5mm to 3mm width at the center and tapering to 1.8mm to 2mm at the ends. The drill hole diameters are 1mm. The dimensions of the five flat agate beads (starting top right and going clockwise) are: (1.) Length 1.40 cm, width at center 6.5 cm, width at ends 6.3 mm, hole diameter 3.2 mm. (2.) Length 1.48 cm, width at center 1.1 mm, width at ends 6.9 mm, diameter of drill hole 3mm. (3.) Bow bead length 3 cm, height 1.8 cm, height of center section 1.42 cm, width at ends 5.5 mm, thickness 6mm, drill hole diameter1.9 mm. (4.) Length 1.45 cm, width at center 9 mm, width at ends 6.4 mm, thickness 5mm, hole diameter2.5mm. (5.) Length 1.4 cm, width at center 9.3 mm, width at ends 5.5mm, thickness 5.5 mm, hole diameter 3 mm. (6.) drop pendant height 1.61 mm, width 1.13 mm, thickness 5.5mm, hole diameter 1.6 mm. The unusual feature of this necklace is the drop pendant hanging from the bow bead. Bow beads are not usually drilled in this way, and this hole was probably added sometime after the bead was made. The diameter of this additional hole is 2mm, slightly larger than the holes drilled for suspending the bead. The drop pendant has a definite front and back. The front side is rounded and the back is flat. The bow bead and the drop pendant as well as the small barrel beads are all probably around two thousand years old. The four flat beads to the sides are from an earlier period – about four thousand years old. The necklace is 18 3/8 inches (46.5 cm) in length. The necklace weighs 23.7 grams.

Creator:
David Ebbinghouse
Metal:
22k Gold,Gold
Stone:
Agate
Stone Cut:
Bead
Weight:
55.5 g
Dimensions:
Length: 15.75 in (400 mm)
Sold As:
Set of 3
Style:
Artist
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
15th Century and Earlier
Date of Manufacture:
Unknown
Condition:
Additions or alterations made to the original: Gold caps have been manufactured to fit around several of the ancient agate beads in this ensemble. The goldwork is contemporary and was custom made by our expert goldsmith, Michael Winsten. Wear consistent with age and use. Many of the beads in this necklace show whitening of the surface due to a chemical reaction from burial in alkaline soil. See description for details. The quality of the ancient beads is pristine.
Seller Location:
Bloomington, IN
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU2425213792402