Collections: Egyptian, Classical, and Ancient Middle Eastern Art: Necklace Elements

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Necklace Elements

The Sumerian culture in Iraq, established in the third millennium b.c., was one of the world’s earliest civilizations. It reached a height of luxury known to us primarily through the elegantly crafted jewelry found in the tombs of its rulers. The ornaments exhibited here include two finger rings and two pairs of earrings in gold, and beads fashioned in gold and semiprecious stones. The beads have been restrung in modern times. Originally, they belonged to elaborate necklaces, which were often so large that their strands had to be held apart by separators. A separator on the smallest strand here consists of four attached tubes in gold (no. 3). The large round bead in lapis lazuli, with a gold cap, was the head of an ornamental pin in silver; traces of silver remain in the hole (no. 4).


This text refers to these objects: 1999.109.1; 1999.109.2; 1999.109.3; 1999.109.4; 1999.109.5; 1999.109.6; 1999.109.7; 1999.109.8; 1999.109.9; 1999.109.10

• Culture: Sumerian
• Medium: Gold, lapis lazuli, carnelian, chalcedony(?) on modern string
• Place Made: Iraq
• Dates: ca. 2600-2500 B.C.E.
• Period: early Dynastic IIIA Period
• Dimensions: Length 14 3/8 in. (36.5 cm)
• Collections: Egyptian, Classical, and Ancient Middle Eastern Art
• Museum Location: This item is on view in Egypt Reborn: Art for Eternity, Ancient Middle Eastern Art, The Hagop Kevorkian Gallery, 3rd Floor
• Accession Number: 1999.109.1
• Credit Line: Purchased with funds given by Shelby White
• Image: Group, 1991.109.1_+1999.109.2_+1999.109.3_PS2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2009
Sumerian. Necklace Elements, ca. 2600-2500 B.C.E. Gold, lapis lazuli, carnelian, chalcedony(?) on modern string , Length 14 3/8 in. (36.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Purchased with funds given by Shelby White, 1999.109.1 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1991.109.1_+1999.109.2_+1999.109.3_PS2.jpg)
• Catalogue Description: Necklace (strung in modern times) comprising 40 beads: seven chalcedony (?) barrel beads; six gold ball beads alternating with five carnelian tubular beads; carnelian lentoid bead; two small lapis barrel beads joining rectangular lapis spacer; central element of necklace consisting of super-imposed gold and carnelian faceted beads; rectangular lapis spacer with two small lapis barrels; carnelian lentoid; six gold ball beads alternating with five carnelian tubular beads; two chalcedony (?) and two carnelian barrel beads.