18th Century and Earlier Necklaces

This stunning necklace dates from the Hellenistic Period. Beginning with the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C., the era is renowned for its artistic efflorescence. Gold flooded into the Eastern Mediterranean after Alexander’s conquest of Persia, and with an abundance of material to work with, the skill of Hellenistic jewellers reached new heights of refinement and inspiration. This piece likely dates from the Late Hellenistic period, during which jewellers made innovative use of gemstones within elaborate gold settings. This necklace composed of ancient elements, including 10 gold beads with hanging charms, 28 large natural polished garnet beads and a large central gold capped lozenge shaped banded agate. From the Hellenistic period, this necklace may have originated from Greece or as far East as the Bactriana (modern day Northern Afghanistan, including parts of southwestern Tajikistan and southeastern Uzbekistan). This necklace has been restrung and fitted with an 18ct gold S clasp.

An ancient Hellenistic period necklace from, 3rd-1st Century B.C., South Arabia, possinly Yemen. This remarkable necklace is composed of spherical garnet beads, interspersed alternat...

A wonderful ancient necklace, with original chain and agate 'eye' bead.