This striking necklace has a distinctly East Indian feel, with an adorable agate mongoose pendant as the focal. Carnelian, crab agate and brass-tone pewter beads are hand-knotted on brown silk. The rich earthy tones of this necklace are perfect for autumn. If you aren’t a mongoose fan, the pendant could just as easily be a ferret, a mink, or a fisher.
Although the beads in this necklace are stone, it is likely that all of them have been treated or enhanced. The pendant is hand-carved from a single piece of agate and is roughly 1.75 inches long. It may have been heat-treated. The carnelian and "crab agate" are enhanced. This necklace is roughly 20 inches long, including the clasp. The clasp and beads are likely lead-free pewter and not solid brass.
Please note that the display mannequin in the photo is about half-human scale; the necklace has been draped around the back of the mannequin to simulate how the necklace would hang. Please refer to the other photos for a picture of the entire necklace and an indication of scale. Pewter is not hypoallergenic and those prone to skin irritation should consider one of my pieces using sterling silver or vermeil findings. The “crab” agate (the spotted stones) is created by heating the stone (which is probably a chalcedony, but not a true agate) to make the crackle pattern. It is also possible that these stones have been bleached and dyed, but the effect is naturalistic. Like all silk knotted necklaces, care should be taken not to get this necklace wet, and it should be stored flat: silk will stretch over time. Like all of my jewelry, this necklace is not intended for use by persons under 13.
About the Stones:
Agate is a form of silicon dioxide (quartz) and is usually formed as nodules in volcanic deposits. Its characteristic banding and translucency distinguishes it from related stones in the chalcedony family. Agate is a hard stone, with a Mohs hardness of 7. Agates are supposed to make excellent “worry stones.”
Carnelian is a reddish brown chalcedony, microcrystalline quartz (silicon dioxide). The red color comes from the presence of iron oxide. Much of the carnelian on the market has been heated to give it a darker, richer color. The word carnelian is derived from the Latin word “carnis” meaning flesh, in reference to the fleshy color it often exhibits. Carnelian is a hard, with a Mohs hardness of 7.
The ancient Egyptians considered carnelian a stone of continual renewal, and often placed it in tombs as a sort of “magic armor” for the afterlife. It was believed in many cultures to be a powerful ward against evil.
