ane003

Necklace - Gold, Cornelian & Lapis Lazuli

£1500

Description	A beautiful ancient necklace of gold, cornelian and lapis lazuli. Each of the four carnelian drops is capped with gold. The piece is highlighted by the gold capped lapis stones, cornelian bead and gold spacers that further highlight the single solid gold ornamentation. The piece has been restrung and is a unique item. Possibly of Mesopotamian origin, cornelian was one of the ealiest stones used in jewellery, due to the relative ease of which it could be worked.
Condition	Excellent condition for its age. Some caps replaced at some point, possibly in antiquity. One carnelian drop has split along an old fracture, now in two pieces.
Date	1st millennium BC
Dimensions	22 inches (56cm) length
PROVENANCE	Property of a private collector, who acquired the piece pre 1970. illustrated: Christie's catalogue ANT-8724, April 2000. Page 148.