A collection of small Western Asiatic gold beads, each featuring a perforation through the centre for suspension. The beads are composed of two layers of five or six spheres, positioned in a circular arrangement to resemble flowers. Some beads feature indentations or flattened surfaces to the spheres due to age. Some cracks, holes and earthy encrustations feature throughout the pieces. Many grand civilisations inhabited the area of Western Asia in antiquity, and their wealth and prosperity are 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 Western Asiatic jewellery production and were later adopted by the Greeks, Etruscans and Romans. Measurements: W 0.4-0.8cm x H 0.2-0.6cm Weight (collective): 2.02g Provenance: From a late Japanese specialist collector, 1970-2000s.