Necklace 19th-20th century

This striking necklace is held at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, crafted by an anonymous maker. Notice the careful arrangement of black and white beads: a stark contrast that evokes a sense of duality. The necklace may, at first glance, appear to be purely decorative. Yet, like the contrasting masks of comedy and tragedy, the opposing colors here carry complex symbolic weight. Consider the yin and yang of Chinese philosophy, where black and white represent opposing but interconnected forces. Or, think of the countless instances in art where these colors denote day and night, good and evil. This binary echoes through time, shaping our understanding of the world. Even in dreams, black and white often symbolize subconscious struggles, reflecting how deeply these associations are embedded within us. Through the ages, this visual dichotomy has resurfaced, evolving and taking on new meanings, yet always retaining its primal power to engage us on a profound level.