**Originally Listed At $350**

Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Moche, ca. 100 to 500 CE. A choker necklace comprised of seven strands strung with hundreds of black and white hand-carved shell beads. The strands are held in place by modern spacer bars/separators that are strung midway down on both sides and at the center to support the pendant. The pendant is a radiant flower shaped mother of pearl shell with inlaid circles of orange and dark umber colored shells. Two hand drilled perforations pierce the pendant center, perhaps the original area for suspension. Four thin wire arms hold the pendant in place and attach to the central spacer bar. This is a wearable necklace with a hook clasp and several chain links to adjust the size. Size of necklace: 12.25" L (31.1 cm); chain adjustable up to: 14.25" L (36.2 cm)

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex- private Hans Juergen Westermann collection, Germany, collected from 1950-1960s

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#159512

Surface wear, nicks, chips, and losses to beads. Surface pitting and natural shell striations on pendant. Strung in modern times with modern silver plated strand spacer bars. Wearable with a modern hook clasp.