A CARNELIAN NECKLACE, NEAR EASTERN, 3RD MILLENNIUM BC

An exceptional necklace made of light orange colored carnelian of a high purity. The necklace consists of nine long, narrow beads, along with a number of smaller beads and spacers, all of a consistent color. It is rare to find an ensemble such as this of such consistent color and execution. The geographical range of such beads ranges from Anatolia in the west to Afghanistan in the east where some of the finest beads were produced.
Length: 70 cm.
Largest beads 5.5 cm. and 4.6 cm.

PROVENANCE
Ex Belgian private collection of Mr. J.P. (1910-1992) and then by descent.