Code: NECK89

OBJECT STUDY

Eleven biconical forms, each tightly wound in fine dark fiber, graduate in mass toward a flattened diamond centerpiece. The woven surface reads as textile at proximity, individual threads visible in tight herringbone coils, bound at each apex by wrapped wire ligatures. Color is uniformly near-black, the fiber carrying a low matte sheen consistent with age and handling. The cord connecting each form is a continuous braided tube, dense and stiff, identical in construction to the beads themselves. This winding technique is consistent with West African ceremonial bead traditions in which organic materials are manipulated into architecturally precise volumes. Closure is a small oxidized metal hook-and-eye, visibly handmade, with a tapered cone ferrule compressing the cord end. The hook carries a scrolled terminal, worn smooth at the curl.

CONSTRUCTION DETAILS

• Material: tightly wound dark fiber over formed core, wire-bound at junctions
• Closure: oxidized metal hook-and-eye with cone ferrules
• Bead count: 11 biconical forms, graduating scale
• Cord: continuous braided fiber tube
• Total length: 77.5 cm
• Weight feel: substantial, rigid drape

CONDITION

Grade A — Excellent condition. Minimal to no visible wear with slight chipping/scratches at the edges, antique but in good condition.