Ethnographic antique. Himalayan necklace with massive phenolic resin amber focal bead.

A stunning authentic Himalayan necklace of green tubular seed beads, nickel silver beads, Indian coin pendants (1972, 1976, 1984, 1985) and a massive resin amber focal bead with three silver rim protectors. Probably from Nepal.

Has been cleaned but focal bead retains its patina. The metal beads are nickel-silver or ‘German silver’ (generally composed of 60% copper, 20% nickel and 20% zinc) and have polished to a pleasing warm colour whilst retaining patina.

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

Dimensions:
Focal Bead Dimensions: 62mm diameter x 44mm thick
Strand length: 96cm
Weight: 300gms

Condition: Lovely cleaned appearance. Stunning focal bead. Could be worn. Museum quality example. W1075/1