TWO LARGE WESTERN ASIATIC BANDED AGATE BEADS, 1ST MILLENNIUM BC OR EARLIERComprising a bead of slightly convex cylindrical form and of a dark-brown color with white and gray bands; and a triangular bead of oval section and of a warm gray color with white and ochre bands. (2)Provenance: From the collection of Paolo Bertuzzi (1943-2022), who was a fashion stylist from Bologna, Italy. He was the son of Enrichetta Bertuzzi, founder of Hettabretz, a noted Italian fashionpany with customers such as the Rothschild family, Audrey Hepburn, and Elizabeth Taylor. Paolo Bertuzzi later took over his mother’s business and designed exclusive pieces, some of which were exhibited in the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum in New York, USA. He was also an avid collector of antiques for more than 60 years. His collection includes both archaic and contemporary art, and he edited two important books about Asian art, Goa Made - An Archaeological Discovery, about a large-scale archaeological project carried out with the Italian and Indonesian governments, and Majapahit, Masterpieces from a Forgotten Kingdom.Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, few small nicks, and light surface scratches.Weight: 37.7 g and 17.5 gDimensions: Length 8.8 cm and 7.1 cmLiteratureparison:Compare a related banded agate bead, 4 cm long, dated 750-300 BC, in the British Museum, registration number 1894,1101.103.pare a related group of beads, dated circa 2200-1800 BC, in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, accession number .2.Auction resultparison:Type: RelatedAuction: Christie’s New York, 6 December 2007, lot 370Price: USD 7,500 or approx.EUR 10,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A Bactrian gold and banded agate bead pendant, circa 5th century BCExpert remark: Note the length (9.1 cm) and gold sheet decorationAuction resultparison:Type: RelatedAuction: Christie’s New York, 12 April 2022, lot 31Price: USD 5,670 or approx.EUR 5,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A Western Asiatic banded agate bead necklace, circa late 3rd-early 2nd millennium BCExpert remark: Note the closely related form and color of some beads in this necklace