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Name:

Ancient Crystal and Milky Quartz Barrel Beads with Silver


Collection:

Swat Valley


Material:

Agate, Silver


Size:

The necklace is 23 1/8 inches (59 cm) in length. The necklace weighs 22 gm.


Price:

$1,300.00


 

 

Description

 

A necklace of fifty-three barrel shaped agate beads alternating with fifty-two silver granulated ring beads. The stone beads are made such that the beads have two zones, one of milky quartz and one of clear quartz or rock crystal. The beads have been shaped so that the dividing line between the two zones is the widest point in the width of the tapered cylinders. This is usually at the approximate center of the bead, but not always as can be seen in the center bead in the necklace. It seems as if it is more important that the widest point be at the dividing line between the two zones than that the bead be symmetrical with the widest point being in the center regardless of where the color change occurs. That this was done intentionally implies a symbolic meaning for this choice which is now lost in the mists of time. The largest bead is 2 cm in length, 8 mm in diameter at the widest point and 4.5 mm in diameter at the smallest end. The smallest bead at the back of the necklace is just 5.5 mm in length and 3 mm in width; the drill hole diameter on this smallest bead is 1.5mm. The beads that are 1 cm in length have holes around 2mm in diameter and the larger beads have holes as large as 3mm. The larger holes are a good indication that the beads are Bronze Age and could be as old as four thousand years. The fifty-two granulated ring beads are each composed of five granules of Fine (999) silver. The clasp and beading tips are also made of Fine silver.