Collection
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Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Necklace Elements

Sumerian

1 of 2

Object Label

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).

Caption

Sumerian. Necklace Elements, ca. 2600–2500 B.C.E.. Gold, lapis lazuli, carnelian, chalcedony (?) on modern string , Overall length: 14 3/8 in. (36.5 cm) as mounted: 6 × 4 1/2 × 1 15/16 in. (15.2 × 11.4 × 5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Purchased with funds given by Shelby White, 1999.109.1. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

Gallery

Not on view

Culture

Sumerian

Title

Necklace Elements

Date

ca. 2600–2500 B.C.E.

Period

early Dynastic IIIA Period

Geography

Place made: Iraq

Medium

Gold, lapis lazuli, carnelian, chalcedony (?) on modern string

Classification

Jewelry

Dimensions

Overall length: 14 3/8 in. (36.5 cm) as mounted: 6 × 4 1/2 × 1 15/16 in. (15.2 × 11.4 × 5 cm)

Credit Line

Purchased with funds given by Shelby White

Accession Number

1999.109.1

Frequent Art Questions

  • Where did the museum find this jewelry and how many people do you think wore them?

    Like much of the finest ancient art, this jewelry likely comes from a Sumerian tomb. Pieces like these made of such precious materials would have belonged to elite--even royal--members of society. We don't know how many hands they may have passed through before being buried though.

  • Who would wear this piece of jewelry?

    These necklaces come from Sumerian tombs, but include materials that had been imported from other regions such as modern day Afghanistan. Therefore such pieces were expensive and would only have belonged to elite members of society.

  • How do you pronounce lapis lazuli?

    The 'a' in "lapis" sounds like the 'a' in "apple" and the 'i' is short. The same 'a' sound is used in "lazuli," the 'u' is like 'oo' and it ends in a long 'i'.
    Thanks!

  • Tell me more.

    We actually don't know much about these beautiful adornments but they are certainly made of luxurious materials. They are of a style that would have been owned by wealthy Sumerians. Sumer was in southern Iraq.
    Gold, for example was highly valued in antiquity, not unlike today. Lapis lazuli, the dark blue stone was highly valued for its rarity and brilliant color. Carnelian, the reddish stone, was popular in Near Eastern and Mediterranean jewelry and seals.
    Thank you

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Artists and makers

Sumerian

18 works in the collection