Ancient Sumerian Stone & Shell Beads - One Pound of Disc Beads for Jewelry Making

拍品描述

Near East, Mesopotamia, Sumerian, ca. 3000–2000 BCE. A full pound of ancient beads in small disc and short tube forms, each drilled through the center for stringing. The palette ranges from bone white and cream through gray to muted earthen tones, with some beads retaining the pale surface bloom typical of aged faience, a self-glazing quartz paste used across early Mesopotamia. Others are cut from stone, with edges softened by handling and burial. Beads of this type were strung into necklaces, bracelets, garment trim, and votive offerings. Size: 0.2" W (0.5 cm W). Bead production in the Sumerian city-states was industrial in scale. Excavations at Ur, Kish, and Nippur recovered beads by the tens of thousands, drilled from limestone, steatite, shell, carnelian, and vitreous frit, the last a precursor of true glass. Drilling was accomplished with a copper or flint-tipped bow drill fed by an abrasive slurry of sand and water, a slow process that made even the humblest bead a measured investment of labor. Strung ornaments carried more than decorative weight: multi-strand collars and beaded headdresses marked rank, and beads placed in burials functioned as portable wealth and as apotropaic protection for the journey beyond. Bulk lots such as this one typically derive from disturbed or previously excavated cemetery deposits, where the strings long ago perished and the beads survived alone. SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).For those not using LiveAuctioneers' Live Ship program, Artemis Fine Arts offers expert in-house packing and worldwide shipping. With over 20 years of experience, our team provides careful, reliable, and affordable service. For a quick quote on this lot, please contact support@artemisfinearts.com prior to the auction, or call 720-890-7700. PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception. Item #203211

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