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Choice of 4 Vintage Mauritanian Ebony Prayer Strands with Silver Inlay (ANT453)

Strand: 1

RARE FIND: only one in our inventory

Choice of vintage ebony tesbih / prayer/ worry bead strands or tasbir/chaplet from the Western Sahara (Mauritania /  Morocco). All are vintage and used.

These lovely old strands were used as prayer beads and as chaplet worn by Moorish dancers.

Can be worn as is, used as decoration or used as jewelry supplies.

Strand 1:  Smaller ebony beads and worn inlay with lovely old tassel.  Nice faux amber and glass beads combined. 30" strand excluding tassel. Ebony beads measure approximately 7-8mm. 2 3/8 oz/70.5 g. 12 inlaid beads plus inlaid imam bead/focal pendant.

Strand 2: Ebony beads, 23 with inlay plus imam bead. No tassel, rare vintage Bohemian beads.  26" strand excluding imam bead.Ebony beads measure approximately 8.5x5.5mm. Strand weighs 3.5 oz, 103.5 g.

SOLD: Strand 3: Three tassels on this strand with larger ebony and silver inlay beads. This is a 36 inch strand not including tassels and imam bead. Nice silver inlay, includes a phenolic resin bead and old agate glass from Idar Oberstein.  Ebony beads measure approximately 10-11.5mm diameter x 6-8.5 hole to hole. Strand weighs 7 oz, 200 g.

SOLD: Strand 4: 28 inches of beads not including partial worn tassles and imam bead. Lovely wear on the imam bead. 21 beads with silver inlay. Ebony beads measure 9-10x6-7mm. Fantastic faceted Idar Oberstein glass striped agate bead (measures 33mm!). Weighs 5 3/8 oz/156 grams.

According to The History of Beads, by Lois Dobin, these strands were also used as a chaplet/tasbir worn by dancers of the guedra, the ritual love dance performed by Moorish women for men. The beads are twisted around the wrist or worn around the neck. See pages 149- 150 of The History of Beads for example.


Antique and Vintage Item 453

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