The white beads look like sections of Dentalium shells as they have ridges, the black may be Iranian jet or blackened bone. The shapes suggest perhaps Afghanistan?
Stefany

Hi John,

Welcome to the Forum.

I can't say I recognize this necklace. (I handled it, but that doesn't mean I know—for sure—what it is.) I agree with Stefany that some of the white beads look like dentalia shells. The style—it having rows of beads held together with spacing beads, reminds me more than anything else of certain ancient constructions, often composed of amber or jet (perhaps other materials too), that were generally thought to be "Keltic." That is, from pre-Roman British (and Western European) antiquity. Of course it is a style that persists to this day..., so who knows. I don't remember that the dark beads are jet, though some might be. As I recall, the material is more brown and feebly translucnet.

You might ask Jim what he remembers about it. Write to me and I'll give you his eddress.

Jamey

Thank you all for your help with this necklace. I would say that Beadman is correct that the beads are more brownish than pure black. One of the spacers near the middle fades from almost black to brown, if that is a clue to the material. The spacers have diagonal parallel lines which seem to have come from their manufacture. One dealer in Tucson thought it was soapstone but couldn't say for sure. Another dealer thought the shape of the spacers and the relative largeness of some of the bead holes suggested Hellenistic influence. That's all I have been able to gather so far.

Could these possibly be black coral? Are they kind of "soft" when you tap them to your teeth, as black coral is?

To my eye (and teeth) it seems to be a stone. But next year in Tucson I will be looking for jet, black coral, and Keltic pieces so as to make comparisons. These mystery pieces are always the most fun and educational. Thanks for these clues and any future suggestions.