Bactrian Stone & Shell Bead Necklace, ex-Christie’s:
**Originally Listed At $6000**
Central Asia, Bactria, ca. late 3rd millennium BCE. An incredible necklace made of ancient beads restrung in modern times to restore its ancient glory. Strung in three strands, it centers on a chlorite compartmental rosette bead, inlaid with lapis lazuli and carnelian. Above that, the strands are arranged with alternating black and white spacers, interspersed with banded agate and lapis lazuli tabloids, and shell barrels, joined by triple strand 80% silver spacers. The center features two quatrefoil compartmental chlorite pendants inlaid with lapis lazuli, calcite, carnelian, and copper. At the upper end of the necklace, the three strands join together at a pair of triangular shell terminals. Length of strand: 35″ L (88.9 cm); size of rosette: 1.45″ W (3.7 cm)
