Antique Indian necklace

[greenacres]

I just purchased this necklace. I bought it of the turquoise and antique beads. I noticed it had a signature. I can't get a clear enough picture. I want to hear evryone thoughts and then I'll tell you what I paid for it.

[greenacres]

Now here's a picture of the symbol. I couldn't get a better picture.

[talesofthesevenseas]

Maybe it is just the photos, but it is looking like lapis lazuli and glass to me rather than turquoise. Lovely colors!

[talesofthesevenseas]

Here is an example of lapis lazuli:



Here are two examples of turquoise. It ranges from sky blue to a greenish blue:
 




Also when you said "Indian" did you mean Native American or from India? I don't see a whole lot of Native American styling in this, but I could be wrong. I am absolutely no expert on this subject, just had a few pieces of jewelry of both lapis lazuli and of turquoise, and jewelry from both the middle east and also from the southwest US by native artists.

[hosman321]

I love it! Looks to me like it has both lapis lazuli and turquoise. Can't really see the mark, can you describe it? Or maybe do a little sketch of it?

[talesofthesevenseas]

Forgot to mention that your beads could also be faience. This is an ancient form of ceramic paste, it's what the Egyptians made ushabti figures (human form statues that would do your work for you in the afterlife) and "mummy beads" from. It is still made today. It looks kind of like turquoise without the veins, although it can have brownish lines in it. I have a whole bunch of ancient examples of that.


Here is a faience bead:

[talesofthesevenseas]

Here are some examples of ancient Egyptian faience. As you can see in the photos it looks a lot like turquoise and the colors can be very different! There can be a lot of brown in it too.

[greenacres]

I'm working on trying to get better markings for you.

[greenacres]

My camera is not really goodenough my daughter says. I tried coping it and couldn't copy well enough, but here's another picture. The bottom mark looks like a horse or a dog.

[talesofthesevenseas]

I think I would take this to a jeweler to assess what stones you've got there and the origins. I think this one would need to be hands-on.

[greenacres]

So, do you think there's value to it? Estimated guess? I found it searching through antique beads on ebay and held my breath till the auction was over. Either it was listed wrong or people are fixated on antique beads. I can't believe no one saw it, or they just didn't know what they were looking at because I paid a rediculous price for it.

[talesofthesevenseas]

I personally could not do that without knowing the age, maker or materials. Kinda hard to even get started.

[waywardangler]

For what it is worth, it does not look native american/indian to me.  Not even any part.  That does not mean it isn't worth $ though.

Tales, the faiences reminded me of the "Mummies" special exhibition I just saw at the Milwaukee WI museum.  They had some displayed with the Egyptian mummies.  A very interesting if not spooky exhibit of mummies from all over the world and not just Egypt.  Makes one stop and think about death.

[mariok54]

Funny, I was thinking 'Indian' as in sub-continent, not native American... 

[waywardangler]

True, mario, but as soon as turquiose and Indian are together in one sentence, native american takes over.