Antique Peruvian Sodalite Beads with Silver
Collection:
Peru
Material:
Sodalite, Silver
Size:
The necklace is 22 inches (56 cm) in length. The necklace weighs 118gm.
Price:
$2,500.00
A necklace of twenty-seven sodalite beads, twelve of which are disc shaped and fifteen of which are barrel-shaped with ten Fine (999) silver spherical beads of three sizes. The largest is 1.8 cm in length and 2 cm in width, being slightly oblate. The smallest silver bead at the back is 8mm in length and 1 cm in width. The next silver bead from the back is 1.5 cm in length and 1.75mm in width. The clasp and beading tips are also Fine (999) silver. The barrel-shaped sodalite bead at the center of the necklace is 2.4 cm in length, and 1.5 cm in width. It is slightly flattened in shape so the smallest width is 1.1 cm. the drill hole diameter is 5.8mm. The disc shaped beads to either side of the center bead are 1.25cm-1.35cm in length, 1.4 cm in width and the drill hole diameter is 4.5 mm. The smallest barrel shaped bead is 1.63 cm in length, 1.4cm in width and with a drill hole diameter of 3.5mm. The beads are said to be from Peru but at present we do not know from which Andean culture they originate. The oldest culture, the Chavin, originated four thousand years ago. Later, the Moche in the north and the Wari in the south both formed distinct cultures.