Necklace compsed of antique amber beads dating from the Hellenistic through the Roman periods. Amber, the fossilized resin of extinct trees, is one of the oldest gems known  More »

Necklace compsed of antique amber beads dating from the Hellenistic through the Roman periods. Amber, the fossilized resin of extinct trees, is one of the oldest gems known to man. Amulets made from it have been found in tombs dating from the Stone Age. Of rich color, its electrical properties made it magic to primitive man and this fascination has continued to the present day. Widespread trade in amber began over 9,000 years ago, when it traveled from the Baltic region to the palaces and cities of the ancient Mediterranean, such as Knossos and Mycenae. It was believed in Antiquity-- as now-- that amber could cure numerous ailments and avert evil or prevent witchcraft. Ancient myths ascribed its origins to the rays of the setting sun, cooled in the ocean; to the tears of rare birds; or to the urine of the lynx. Homer makes mention of amber in the Odyssey. In prehistoric times, the resin oozing from trees sometimes encased insects and other specimens of natural life. These inclusions are highly prized today. Amber varies in color from pale yellow, to rich honey brown, to deep orange to red. Soothing to the touch as well as to the eye, it is still one of the most popular gems after the passage of millennia. - (SB.0340) Origin: Middle East Circa: 200 BC to 200 AD Collection: Jewelry Medium: Amber   « Less

The love of ornament is as old as civilization itself. By wearing jewelry that is unusual or unique, we define ourselves as individuals and set ourselves apart from the  More »

The love of ornament is as old as civilization itself. By wearing jewelry that is unusual or unique, we define ourselves as individuals and set ourselves apart from the crowd. Throughout antiquity, in every great culture, beads were formed from colored gems, glass, ceramic, shell, bone and metal in an endless variety of shapes and sizes. Sometimes they were worn for their magical or curative powers, at other times simply for their beauty. They were worn by people, highborn and low, the citizen of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Judea, Greece, Rome and Byzantium. Frequently these jewels, so prized in life, were buried with their owners to adorn them through eternity. When we wear them today, we add another chapter to their long and fascinating history. - (SB.0341) Origin: Middle East Circa: 600 BC to 600 AD Collection: Jewelry Medium: Glass   « Less

Necklace composed of antique glass beads from the Roman through the Byzantine periods. The love of ornament is as old as civilization itself. By wearing jewelry that is  More »

Necklace composed of antique glass beads from the Roman through the Byzantine periods. The love of ornament is as old as civilization itself. By wearing jewelry that is unusual or unique, we define ourselves as individuals and set ourselves apart from the crowd. Throughout antiquity, in every great culture, beads were formed from colored gems, glass, ceramic, shell, bone and metal in an endless variety of shapes and sizes. Sometimes they were worn for their magical or curative powers, at other times simply for their beauty. They were worn by people, highborn and low, the citizen of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Judea, Greece, Rome and Byzantium. Frequently these jewels, so prized in life, were buried with their owners to adorn them through eternity. When we wear them today, we add another chapter to their long and fascinating history. - (SB.0354) Origin: Middle East (Diverse Tomb Sites) Circa: 100 BC to 600 AD Collection: Jewelry Medium: Glass   « Less

Necklace composed of antique glass beads from the Roman through the Byzantine periods. The love of ornament is as old as civilization itself. By wearing jewelry that is  More »

Necklace composed of antique glass beads from the Roman through the Byzantine periods. The love of ornament is as old as civilization itself. By wearing jewelry that is unusual or unique, we define ourselves as individuals and set ourselves apart from the crowd. Throughout antiquity, in every great culture, beads were formed from colored gems, glass, ceramic, shell, bone and metal in an endless variety of shapes and sizes. Sometimes they were worn for their magical or curative powers, at other times simply for their beauty. They were worn by people, highborn and low, the citizen of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Judea, Greece, Rome and Byzantium. Frequently these jewels, so prized in life, were buried with their owners to adorn them through eternity. When we wear them today, we add another chapter to their long and fascinating history. - (SB.0362) Origin: Middle East Circa: 100 BC to 600 AD Collection: Jewelry Medium: Glass   « Less

The love of ornament is as old as civilization itself. By wearing jewelry that is unusual or unique, we define ourselves as individuals and set ourselves apart from the  More »

The love of ornament is as old as civilization itself. By wearing jewelry that is unusual or unique, we define ourselves as individuals and set ourselves apart from the crowd. Throughout antiquity, in every great culture, beads were formed from colored gems, glass, ceramic, shell, bone and metal in an endless variety of shapes and sizes. Sometimes they were worn for their magical or curative powers, at other times simply for their beauty. They were worn by people, highborn and low, the citizen of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Judea, Greece, Rome and Byzantium. Frequently these jewels, so prized in life, were buried with their owners to adorn them through eternity. When we wear them today, we add another chapter to their long and fascinating history. - (SB.0568) Origin: Eastern Mediterranean Circa: 3300 BC to 1300 BC Collection: Jewelry Medium: Carnelian, Peridot   « Less

The love of ornament is as old as civilization itself. By wearing jewelry that is unusual or unique, we define ourselves as individuals and set ourselves apart from the  More »

The love of ornament is as old as civilization itself. By wearing jewelry that is unusual or unique, we define ourselves as individuals and set ourselves apart from the crowd. Throughout antiquity, in every great culture, beads were formed from colored gems, glass, ceramic, shell, bone and metal in an endless variety of shapes and sizes. Sometimes they were worn for their magical or curative powers, at other times simply for their beauty. They were worn by people, highborn and low, the citizen of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Judea, Greece, Rome and Byzantium. Frequently these jewels, so prized in life, were buried with their owners to adorn them through eternity. When we wear them today, we add another chapter to their long and fascinating history. - (SB.0593) Origin: The Holy Land Circa: 3300 BC to 600 BC Collection: Jewelry Medium: Carnelian, Silver   « Less

Necklace composed of antique carnelian, agate, and faience beads from the early through the late Bronze Ages. The love of ornament is as old as civilization itself. By  More »

Necklace composed of antique carnelian, agate, and faience beads from the early through the late Bronze Ages. The love of ornament is as old as civilization itself. By wearing jewelry that is unusual or unique, we define ourselves as individuals and set ourselves apart from the crowd. Throughout antiquity, in every great culture, beads were formed from colored gems, glass, ceramic, shell, bone and metal in an endless variety of shapes and sizes. Sometimes they were worn for their magical or curative powers, at other times simply for their beauty. They were worn by people, highborn and low, the citizen of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Judea, Greece, Rome and Byzantium. Frequently these jewels, so prized in life, were buried with their owners to adorn them through eternity. When we wear them today, we add another chapter to their long and fascinating history. - (SB.0677) Origin: Eastern Mediterranean Circa: 3300 BC to 1300 BC Collection: Jewelry Style: Bronze Age Medium: Carnelian, Agate   « Less

Necklace composed of antique carnelian, agate, and faience beads found in Hebron, Israel that date from the early through the middle Bronze Ages. The love of ornament is as  More »

Necklace composed of antique carnelian, agate, and faience beads found in Hebron, Israel that date from the early through the middle Bronze Ages. The love of ornament is as old as civilization itself. By wearing jewelry that is unusual or unique, we define ourselves as individuals and set ourselves apart from the crowd. Throughout antiquity, in every great culture, beads were formed from colored gems, glass, ceramic, shell, bone and metal in an endless variety of shapes and sizes. Sometimes they were worn for their magical or curative powers, at other times simply for their beauty. They were worn by people, highborn and low, the citizen of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Judea, Greece, Rome and Byzantium. Frequently these jewels, so prized in life, were buried with their owners to adorn them through eternity. When we wear them today, we add another chapter to their long and fascinating history. - (SB.0678) Origin: Eastern Mediterranean Circa: 3300 BC to 1600 BC Collection: Jewelry Medium: Carnelian and Agate   « Less

A very rare set of cowrie shell money from the neolithic period in China. Twenty two shells in all strung together as a necklace as they were originally.The Chinese character  More »

A very rare set of cowrie shell money from the neolithic period in China. Twenty two shells in all strung together as a necklace as they were originally.The Chinese character for money originated from the cowrie shell. Age: 2000 to 1500 BC. Size: L.44cm around, plus the pendent. Condition: Natural calcification but intact and wearable.   « Less

A very unusual and rare red agate oval Pyu seal. The white band on the surface of the stone has been skillfully carved down to the next red layer with a sacred bull. The red  More »

A very unusual and rare red agate oval Pyu seal. The white band on the surface of the stone has been skillfully carved down to the next red layer with a sacred bull. The red in the stone is more of a ruby red than an orangery red. When looking sideways at the stone at a certain angle, you can see the crystal clear band sandwiched in between two red bands which is natural to the stone. (see photo) The carver used an ingenious method of carving the seal to make it look like a solid red ruby-colored agate with a white band on top. The 24 karat gold 6-pronged ring was recently made to accommodate the stone. Period: Pyu (100 - 500 AD) Size: Oval stone length = 12 mm, stone width = 9mm, stone depth = 3 mm Condition: Very good.   « Less