Beads

A necklace of two strands of pale tubular and disc beads forms an open loop, with cream-colored cowrie shells, their brown-tinged backs showing, spaced along the lower arc. Set against a plain gray ground, the arrangement is photographed straight on, showing the shells' glossy curves and the stone beads' soft, worn surfaces.

Look closer: Small disc beads are interspersed among the tubular beads on the right side of the loop.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 9th century BCE

Medium

Shell, stone

Source

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Size

3783 × 3855 px

Credit (appreciated, not required for public-domain works): The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Purchase, Mrs. Constantine Sidamon-Eristoff Gift, 1961