A FINE CARNELIAN PENDANT WITH GOLD ALLOY CAPS, ANGKOR PERIOD
Khmer Empire, 10th - 12th century. The biconical and faceted carnelian bead of interesting hues showing subtle transition from iron red to coral pink, well-polished. The top and bottom with gold metal alloy mountings embossed and engraved with stylized human figures on a boat, the ends with stars.

Condition: Good condition with some notches, scratches, encrustations, and extensive weathering commensurate with age.
Provenance: The collection of The Zelnik Istvan Southeast Asian Gold Museum. Institutional art collection in Belgium, acquired from the above. Dr. Istvan Zelnik, President of the Hungarian South and Southeast Asian Research Institute, is a former high-ranking Hungarian diplomat who spent several decades in Southeast Asia, building the largest known private collection of Asian art in Europe.

Weight: 52.3 g
Dimensions: Length 9.4 cm

Literature comparison: Compare closely related agate beads with gold caps in Gold treasures of the Cham Kingdoms, from the Collection of Dr. Zelnik, page 122, Budapest 2007 and in The Zelnik Istvan Southeast Asian Gold Museum, page 182, Budapest 2013.