Western Asiatic Agate and Gold Bead Necklace

Columnar bar with tapering ends, repair to one end. 13.6 kg, 148.5 cm



Ex collection 'F', London, UK, 2000s.

Constructed from gold sheet wrapped around a crescent-shaped core tapering towards the ends and over-wrapped with thin gold wire forming diagonal narrow bands; the body terminating in a wirework clasp with four small domed motifs surrounded by granulated circles and hinge pin between. 28.7 grams, 70.5 mm



From a private family collection formed in the 1970s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.12102-214104.

Seljuk metalwork with Islamic traditions was characterised by the use of geometric and plant motifs in order to fill blank spaces, a coherent combination of colours, and abstinence from using gold and silver. Decorative motifs in metal items in the Seljuk era are, therefore, mainly geometric plant figures, inscriptions, animal and fictional figures compatible with Islamic tradition, with the focus on plant figures and geometric elements like the one visible on our bracelet.

With intaglio frieze depicting two tall robed female figures with a sun-disc in mid-air between them and with a smaller figure holding a spear, to the rear a fruit-bearing tree and a third tall figure holding a long tool or weapon; border formed with three vertical lines and a row of triangles; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 33.9 grams, 39 mm



From a Cotswold, UK, collection; as seen and catalogued by the late Professor Wilfrid George Lambert pre 1990. Accompanied by a previous catalogue information slip.