A beautiful Western Asiatic gold pendant, featuring a white ovoid banded agate bead. The agate is pierced through the centre and stacked on top of a gold bead, secured at the bottom with a suspension loop. Twisted gold wire and a gold disc hang from the loop. The agate is beautifully translucent with bands of white striations. 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. Such pendants would have been part of elaborate necklace or bracelet. Jewellery played an important role across many Near Eastern civilisations. Gold necklaces, rings, earrings and bracelets would have been worn in everyday life but also buried with the deceased. Measurements: L 2.6cm x W 0.4cm Weight: 0.6g Provenance: Ex Japanese private collection, deceased, 1970-2010.