Samon Valley Culture, 800 BC-200 AD. The mostly opaque stone of a black color with yellow-green translucent areas at the top, finely carved to represent a deity standing upright with a distinctive broad nose and prominent buttocks, the legs close together and the arms folded below the chest. Pierced through the figure’s neck to allow suspension as a pendant. This piece was personally examined by Burmese American archaeologist and gemologist Terence Tan, a leading expert in Pyu art and Burmese gemstones, and Hungarian gemologist Dr. József Takács. Their analysis finds that the stone is a black agate (onyx) and the talisman is original, ancient, cut by hand with carving, chiseling, boring and grinding. The color is natural. The stone has been cleaned in a tumbler and re-polished by hand. There are sandy deposits in the recesses of the stone. The marks of authentic ancient craftsmanship are clearly visible. The holes are ancient, handmade, irregular, funnel-shaped, with no trace of modern intervention. A certificate signed by Dr. Zelnik attesting to the above will be handed to the winning bidder upon request. Provenance: Ex-Collection of The Zelnik István Southeast Asian Gold Museum. Institutional art collection in Belgium, acquired from the above. Condition: Good condition with minor traces of age and wear, a small natural age crack with a tiny associated loss to one arm. Weight: 29.1 g Dimensions: Height 6.2 cm