A superb Western Asiatic Gemstone Necklace, ca. 2nd millennium BCE - 1st century CE

This stunning necklace brings together the most rare and prized gemstones of the ancient world.  It comprises flat rectangular beads, hand-carved from red jasper, malachite, breccia, limestone, quartz, carnelian, lapis lazuli, and glass paste, restrung and separated by antique 18K gold spacers. For a related example see Dubin, Lois Sherr, The History of Beads (New York, 1987), 333a-c. Dimensions:  Necklace length: 15 inches (38 cm) Condition:  All beads are intact, and in excellent condition overall, the necklace has been restrung with modern 18K gold spacers and clasp.  An exceptional example. Provenance:  Private collection of Lady Gloria Dale (1922 - 2013 ), Lady Gloria Dale, artist, British crafts patron, and wife of the late Sir William Dale, died December 18th in a hospice in Hampstead, London. She was 91. She and Sir William, a leading British Commonwealth lawyer and instructor in legislative drafting and international law, married in 1966. Lady Dale, who resided in Lincoln"s In