Ethnographic antique. Oman / Yemen silver / imitation carnelian (Naga beads) necklace

A simply stunning ethnic necklace comprising coin silver beads. Testing reveals high content silver. The main beads are silver Baluchi barrel shaped beads with beaded edges and fine wound twisted wire collars. (or possibly from Nizwa). There are also fine ribbed (melon) silver beads with small round collar ends and various small silver spacer beads. The main part of this necklace has classic oval glass imitation carnelian beads (often called ‘naga’ beads due to their prizing by the Nagas of Indian and Burma).

The silver craftsmanship in these beads is of the highest quality. Can be worn.

Provenance: Ex. Romy Rey Collection.
Romy Rey (1938-2020) was born in Zurich, Switzerland. She trained as an artist in Paris and Geneva before settling in London in the early 1960s where she was a partner in two bookshops in Hampstead and Richmond. She shared her life with the artist, Brian Davies (1942-2014). The whole of her five-storey house in Richmond bustled with her “impeccably curated” collection of ethnographic art. Purchased at one of the disposal auctions

References;
‘Silver Treasures from the land of Sheba, Regional Yemeni Jewelry’ - Marjorie Ransom, published by AUC Press, 2014.
‘The Traditional Jewelry of Egypt’ - Azza Fahmy, published by AUC Press, 2015.
‘Arab and Islamic Silver’ - Saad Al-Jadir, published by Stacey International 1981
‘Silver Jewellery of Oman’ - Jehan S Rajab, published by Tareq Rajab Museum, Kuwait 1998

Dimensions:
Focal barrel bead (engraved): 24mm diameter x 31mm long
Naga beads: 20mm diameter x 30mm long
Strand length: 64cm
Weight: 230gms

Condition: Lovely cleaned but patinated appearance. Could be worn. W1200/5