The thick barrel bead is hand-carved from warm red jasper with darker mineral veining, which adds visual movement across the surface. The proportions are gently elongated, with slightly tapering ends, a profile typical of Imperial-period stone beads intended for suspension as a central element within a necklace rather than as a spacer. Red jasper has been a highly prized and revered mineral in almost all ancient cultures, from ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia to Greece, Rome, Gaul, and the ancient Americas. The Romans dedicated jasper to Bona Dea, the goddess of fertility and chastity, attributing protective qualities to the stone for health and family. It was often used in jewelry, seals, cameos, and intaglios to invoke protection, healing, and strength. Medium: Red Jasper Dimensions: Bead length: 3/4 inch (1.9 cm). Strung as a pendant on an 18K yellow gold chain, adjustable up to 18 inches. Condition: The pendant is intact and in excellent condition. It has been strung on a modern 18K yellow gold chain. Provenance: Private New York collection, assembled in the 1970s, and then by descent.
