Object Description
A Western Asiatic necklace composed of gold and semi-precious stone beads. The majority of the necklace consist of a delicate gold chain, with a re-strung beaded segment towards the centre. This section is composed of small tubular carnelian beads evenly interspersed with gold spacer beads decorated with granulation, which vary in shape and size. The necklace is further embellished with five pendants composed of varying semi-precious and gold beads, all of differing sizes and shapes. At the centre, a garnet pendant forms the focal point. A gold bar is attached to a single garnet, in turn secured to the necklace. From either side of the bar hangs an additional garnet, followed by a gold bead and a flattened, gold disc, pierced at the top for suspension.The other flanking pendants include varying beads of semi-precious stone, including turquoise, agate, amethyst and jasper. The necklace ends in a modern gold clasp taking the form of an elegant ‘S’ shape, that curls slightly at its ends. At the centre of the clasp is a small turquoise stone set in a bezel, flanked on either side by three small gold granulations arranged in a triangular formation.
Date: 1st Millenium BC – 1st Millenium AD