Ancient Near East, Achaemenid Persian Empire, ca. 550 to 330 BCE. An amazing and beautiful necklace sure to please any cat lovers! The necklace is comprised of over 40 ancient 58.23% to 61% (equivalent to 14K+) gold and glass beads. The glass beads are a shimmering golden and deep blue hue, in spherical and barrel shapes. Towards the center are the hollow biconical beads made from gold sheets that alternate with blue glass beads. Finally, the seven hollow repousse lion pendants dangle from the center. The lions are double sided, with their mouths open and head framed by their manes. The intricate modeling of their faces is impressive. The necklace is wearable and strung in modern times on a modern wire with a magnet clasp. Size of necklace: 17" L (43.2 cm); size of lion bead: 0.55" L x 0.45" W (1.4 cm x 1.1 cm); quality of gold: 58.23% to 61% (equivalent to 14K+)
The Achaemenid Persian Empire, founded by Cyrus the Great in 550 BCE (including Iran, Mesopotamia, Syria, Egypt, Asia Minor, Central Asia, Caucasus, Thrace and some parts of India) is generally regarded as one of the greatest civilizations of the ancient world. Its capital, Pasargadae, was Cyrus the Great's final resting place and has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To demonstrate the Achaemenid Empire's love of gold, associates of Alexander the Great in accounts of a tomb in Pasargadae, described a golden sarcophagus, necklaces, and gold gemstone earrings. The tomb is located in Pasargadae, in the garden of a royal palace where an ensemble of artifacts known as the Pasargadae Treasure - including various articles of gold and silver, jewelry and gemstones - were found in a ceramic amphora.
This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world’s largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.
Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex Shlomo Moussaieff collection, 1948 - 2000, exported to the United States with the permission of the Israeli Antiquities Authority
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#165014
Condition
Small indentations to gold beads and minor perforations along the seams on lion and other gold beads. Nicks and chips to the glass beads. Wearable and strung in modern times on a modern wire.