A fine Western Asiatic gold bead with granulated decoration. The bead is formed from two hollow halves, each featuring a row of five protruding, hemispherical decorations. Each protrusion is further enriched with a small pellet. Two parallel lines of twisted filigree encircle the middle of the bead where the two halves are joined. The bead has been perforated longitudinally for suspension. The bead is slightly warped and misshapen due to age. One of the hemispherical protrusions is missing with a crack around where the decoration would have been. Signs of wear, such as scratches, cracks, indentations, and chips to the surface. Many grand civilisations inhabited the area of Western Asia in Antiquity, and their wealth and prosperity is witnessed by the very sophisticated precious metal crafting of jewellery. Gold would have been hammered down to a thin layer and manipulated into different shapes. Gold and silver jewellery would have featured gold granules, glass and semi-precious stone inlays and detailed engravings. Very fine granulation along with filigree, were at the centre of Near Eastern and Western Asiatic jewellery production and were later adopted by the Greeks, Etruscans and Romans. Measurements: (circa) L 0.8cm Weight: 0.57g Provenance: From an Ex Japanese gentleman's (deceased) private collection, formed 1970s-2010.