Necklace w/ Ancient Bactrian Lapis Lazuli Beads
Central Asia, Bactrian, ca. 2nd to 1st millennium BCE. A breathtaking necklace comprised of 69 lapis lazuli beads, including 11 sizeable barrel-shaped lapis beads incised with an attractive cross-hatched pattern, 4 faceted ovoid lapis beads, 4 flat lapis beads of diamond and rectangular shapes, and 50 disc-shaped lapis spacer beads - all presenting stunning cornflower blue hues, many with contrasting white inclusions, and all arranged in an attractive, balanced design. All beads are ancient, strung in modern times with a brass hook and loop clasp. Size: 20.125" L (51.1 cm); largest barrel-shaped beads measure ~ .75" L x .375" W (1.9 cm x 1 cm)
The ancient mines of Bactria were a valuable source of lapis lazuli of the best color. Lapis was used to carve statuettes of birds and animals as well as dishes, cylinder seals, and beads that have been found in the royal Sumerian tombs of Ur - and jewelry made from lapis was found in Egyptian burial sites dating prior to 3000 BCE. Interestingly, Egyptian women used powdered lapis as eye shadow, and Pliny the Elder waxed poetic about the stone, describing it as "a fragment of the starry firmament."
Provenance: ex Estate of Eldert Bontekoe, Pegasi Numismatics, Ann Arbor, Michigan USA acquired before 2000
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#158575
Condition Report: All beads are ancient. Strung in modern times with modern findings. Minute nicks to peripheries of some beads. Otherwise beads are intact.
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Central Asia, Bactrian, ca. 2nd to 1st millennium BCE. A breathtaking necklace comprised of 69 lapis lazuli beads, including 11 sizeable barrel-shaped lapis beads incised with an attractive cross-hatched pattern, 4 faceted ovoid lapis beads, 4 flat lapis beads of diamond and rectangular shapes, and 50 disc-shaped lapis spacer beads - all presenting stunning cornflower blue hues, many with contrasting white inclusions, and all arranged in an attractive, balanced design. All beads are ancient, strung in modern times with a brass hook and loop clasp. Size: 20.125" L (51.1 cm); largest barrel-shaped beads measure ~ .75" L x .375" W (1.9 cm x 1 cm)
The ancient mines of Bactria were a valuable source of lapis lazuli of the best color. Lapis was used to carve statuettes of birds and animals as well as dishes, cylinder seals, and beads that have been found in the royal Sumerian tombs of Ur - and jewelry made from lapis was found in Egyptian burial sites dating prior to 3000 BCE. Interestingly, Egyptian women used powdered lapis as eye shadow, and Pliny the Elder waxed poetic about the stone, describing it as "a fragment of the starry firmament."
Provenance: ex Estate of Eldert Bontekoe, Pegasi Numismatics, Ann Arbor, Michigan USA acquired before 2000
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#158575
Condition Report: All beads are ancient. Strung in modern times with modern findings. Minute nicks to peripheries of some beads. Otherwise beads are intact.
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Time, Location
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