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Name:

Ancient Carnelian Barrel Beads with Lapis Lazuli and Gold Tubes


Collection:

Mesopotamia


Material:

Carnelian, Lapis Lazuli, 24k gold


Size:

The necklace is 20 7/8 inches (53 cm) in length. The necklace weighs 52.7 gm.


Price:

$5,450.00


 

 

Description

 

A necklace of nine carnelian tapered barrel beads alternating with eight 24k gold tubes each faced with a combination of short and long lapis lazuli beads. All the stone beads are spaced with granulated ring beads. The center carnelian tube bead is faced with two layer granulated gold ring beads. Gold beading tips and a hook and eye clasp complete the necklace. The center carnelian bead is 2.5 cm in length and 6 mm in width at the center. The widths of the ends are 3.8 mm and the hole diameter is 2 mm. The carnelian tube to the left is 2.23 cm in length and 5 mm in width in the center. The end width is 4 mm and the hole diameter is 2.4 mm. The third carnelian bead back on the left is 1.9 cm in length and 5.5 mm wide at the center. The end width is 4.8 mm and the hole diameter is 2.8 mm. The forth carnelian bead to the back is 1.9 cm in length and is 5.4 mm wide at the center. The end widths are 4.3 mm and the hole diameter is 2 mm. The last carnelian bead 1.12 cm in length and 3.5 mm in width. The hole diameter is 1mm. The bead is square in cross section. The long carnelian bead to the right of the center is 2.3 mm in length and 5 mm in width at the center. The bead is only slightly tapered; the end width is 4.5 mm. The drill hole diameter is 2.5 mm. The next carnelian bead back on the right is similar to its opposite, 1.89 cm in length 5.5 mm in width at the center, the end width is 4.5 mm and the hole diameter is 2.8 mm. The next carnelian bead back on the right (second from the back) is 1.73 cm in length 5.3 mm in width at the center and 4.2 mm wide at the ends. The hole diameter is 2 mm. The last carnelian bead on the right is 1.1 mm in length, width at the center is 4.5 mm, width at the ends is 3 mm and the hole diameter is 2 mm. The beads are about two thousand years old. There is some chipping on the surface, conchoidal fractures and some end wear. Seven of the carnelian beads share the same tapered barrel shape – one is a cylindrical long tube and the small bead to the back is a faceted barrel shape. The sixteen lapis cylinder beads range from 7 mm to 5.5 mm in length with diameters of 4.8 mm to 3.3 mm. The drill hole diameters are 2.3 mm to 2 mm. The smaller lapis lazuli beads are 3 mm to 2 mm in length with diameters of 4.5 mm to 3 mm. The granulated ring beads also graduate in size from front to back – 3.8 mm in diameter to 2.8 mm. The gold tube beads are 8.5 mm in length and 3 mm in diameter. The gold is all 24k.