Bactrian Gold Coiled Wire Necklace with Pendant

3RD-2ND MILLENNIUM B.C.

26 in. (37.20 grams, 66 cm).

Tightly-coiled wire band with graduated profile, domed disc closure with repoussé central boss and pellets to the rim, pendant formed as a rectangular frame enclosing two fusiform banded agate and another fusiform bead, barrel-shaped gold collars and coiled wire finials.

Provenance

with Ancient and Islamic Art Ltd, 1993.
Private European collection, early 1990s.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate no.12597-232360.

Literature

Cf. Salvatori, S., 'Early Bactrian objects in private collections' in Ligabue, G., and Salvatori, S., Bactria. An Ancient Oasis from the Sands of Afghanistan, Venice, 1988, pp.181-7, fig.62ff, for similar style of jewellery.

Footnotes

In Old Bactria there are a number of necklaces with compartmented chlorite rosettes containing settings in lapis lazuli, cornelian, and turquoise, which seem to indicate a tradition of purely local taste; together with these should be considered other examples in twisted gold lamina, like our example, with pendants in gold or in semi-precious stones such as rock crystal.

CONDITION

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LOT 1227