Lot 66
Ancient Central Asia, Bactrian, ca. 2nd millennium BCE. A luminous array of ancient artistry and enduring elegance, this necklace presents a strand of Bactrian agate and carnelian beads, each individually carved and polished over 3,000 years ago, now strung together in a modern arrangement. The warm tones of translucent orange carnelian and banded agate in shades of cream, russet, and smoke evoke the palette of desert earth and distant firelight, echoing the rugged beauty of ancient Central Asia. The beads vary in shape and size, from plump ovals and long barrels to more irregular nodules, with subtle asymmetries that attest to their handworked origins. The agates display dramatic natural banding in concentric lines and swirling patterns, while the carnelians shimmer with the deep glow of iron-rich stone. Size of largest bead: 0.8" L x 0.7" W (2 cm x 1.8 cm); of strand: 29" L (73.7 cm)
Though strung in a contemporary design for wear or display, each bead was once an object of prestige, likely used in personal adornment, ritual, or trade by inhabitants of the Bactrian region - a vital crossroads of Bronze Age commerce stretching from Iran to northern India.
Beads such as these were symbols of wealth, connection, and protection. Agate and carnelian were prized not only for their aesthetic qualities but also for their talismanic value - believed to ward off harm, ensure safe travels, and link the wearer to both the spiritual and earthly realms. Comparable examples are found in museum collections and archaeological sites across Central Asia and the Indus Valley, often unearthed from elite burials or ancient trade hoards. Mounted today as a wearable necklace, this piece brings together ancient material and modern craft, allowing the touch of history to live anew.
Provenance: Collection of Y. Kayvan, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired from a Los Angeles, California, USA gallery acquisition dates range from the late 1990s to 2005
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#194843
- Condition: Ancient beads strung on a modern strand to be wearable. Some expected abrasions, but otherwise all beads are in excellent condition with lustrous surfaces.
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