Pre-Columbian, Peru, Chavin, ca. 900 to 200 BCE. A grand necklace with beads carved from sodalite, one of the primary elements of lapis lazuli mined from the Andes and cherished since antiquity. The piece is comprised of fourteen, large shell-shaped beads of rich blue-violet hues and cream-colored veining, resolving in ten corncob-shaped sodalite beads (five on each side) and a modern clasp. Each shell-shaped bead was incised with five vertical lines that were rubbed with red cinnabar, resulting in a dramatic color contrast. Similarly, the corncob beads were incised with kernels that were also rubbed with red cinnabar. Custom, museum-quality stand. Size: 14" L (35.6 cm); 12.875" H (32.7 cm) on included custom stand; shell-shaped beads measure from 2.5" L (6.4 cm) to 3" L (7.6 cm); corn-shaped beads measure ~ .75" L (1.9 cm)

An impressive and large pectoral that shows the finest workmanship and is comprised of ancient beads carved from superb stone. Sodalite is also known as Poet's Stone, and according to legend, sodalite promotes both creativity and mental lucidity.

The Chavin civilization developed in the northern Andean highlands of Peru from 900 to 200 BCE in the Mosna Valley where the Huachecsa and Mosna rivers merge. The most famous archaeological ruin of the Chavin culture is Chavin de Huantar. Believed to have been built around 900 BCE, this religious center is now a UNESCO world heritage site.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-Bettina Schwimmer Collection, Chicago, Illinois, USA

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#132593

All beads are ancient. Modern stringing and findings. A couple of the large beads have minute, nearly invisible nicks to peripheries, one shows a small abrasion to lower end of front face.