44 Rock crystal and gold beadsThe centerpiece is a natural rock crystal. It is old, but how old is uncertain as this type of bead has been made in India 3000 years ago. These were traded into Indonesia at least 2000 years ago. My guess is that this dates from AD 0 to AD 500. If you look closely you will see the marks of the hand drill that made the hole. It is joined by a sequence of natural crystal beads, including the pale green, translucent round beads. These too are old. They

There are four old Sulawesi silver buttons with garnet beads

The red coral branch beads are natural coral

and an interesting olive green bead whose maker left with air bubbles trapped in the glass

Then there are two green and white mosaic jatim beads and a bead which was made with two techniques

Thinking of returning home

Dimensions: 31 x 15 x 7 cm

including the pale green

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The brick/panel depicts a Kala head carved in low relief

The centre piece for this necklace is an old brass Mamuli from Sumba

so going from the central bead is a Venetian eye bead from Borneo(18th cent)

Strung on German silk