Product Details

Pre-Columbian Chimú turquoise, spondylus, and Andean opal bead necklace, ca. 1100–1470 CE, North Coast Peru (Chan Chan region). A finely strung necklace composed of numerous small, disc-shaped turquoise beads in varied green to blue tones, interspersed with occasional grains of Andean opal. At the center is a prominent spondylus shell bead, prized in Andean cultures for its vivid coloration and strong symbolic associations with fertility, water, and elite status. The beads exhibit irregular hand-cut forms, surface wear, and areas of mineral encrustation consistent with age and burial. The overall composition reflects Chimú preference for refined, linear ornamentation with subtle material contrast. The necklace remains intact and wearable, fitted with a later clasp for modern use. A compelling example of coastal Andean adornment combining marine and mineral materials of high cultural value.