Victorian Banded Agate Bead Necklace

Banded agate is in a class all its own and has a dedicated following. With shades of brown rather than the more common black, these antique beads provide a visual color feast for the eyes. Swirls of chocolate and caramel, mocha and toffee, cinnamon and raisin, copper and seal spiral with bands of white in medium to large size agates graduated in size and ranging from 12 mm to about 15.5 mm in diameter.

Measuring 20 inches (50.8 cm) in length, the strand has been restrung for security and safely secured with a silver spring-type ring clasp. Brown cording has been used to individually hand knot each bead. Very good condition; two beads have a tad surface wear; one has a tiny surface chip visible with magnification; another has a small chip by the hole; another bead has a small natural inclusion that appears as a little pool of darker coloration. None of these conditions is apparent when worn. Dates to circa 1880.