A large Western Asiatic Carnelian and Chalcedony Necklace, ca. 5th century CE

Composed of sixteen spherical chalcedony beads graduated in size, alternating with sixteen flat carnelian beads and centered by a large rectangular chalcedony bead measuring 1 1/4 inches (3.17 cm) in length, the necklace is interspersed with sheet gold spherical beads having a carved and incised geometric decoration, re-strung with a modern closure. Dimensions:  Length:  26 1/2 inches (67.31 cm) Condition:  Intact and in very good condition overall. Provenance:  The Hauge Collection of Ancient & Iranian Art, assembled between 1962 and 1966.  Foreign service brothers, Victor and Osborne Hauge, together with their wives Takako and Gratia, assembled their collection of Persian, Japanese, Chinese, and Southeast Asian works of fine and folk art while stationed overseas with the US government after WWII.   In consultation with academics and dealers, the Hauges assembled over two decades of what former Freer Gallery of Art director Harold Stern described in 1957 as "without doubt one of t