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Ancient Early Islamic Glass Beads, Some with Eyes - Rita Okrent Collection (AG111n)

RARE FIND: only one in our inventory

A 55 bead strand  / 23 inches of round early Islamic era (900-1200 A.D.) ancient excavated blue Islamic beads from Mauritania and Mali. Blue is traditionally used for protection by Islamic and African societies and people, with or without the eye.

 23 inches of round ancient Islamic glass beads, 10 of 55 beads have eyes. 7-17mm bead size. Lots of wear and use on these beads. Good for use in necklaces and as focal beads. Strand is approximately 29 inches including raffia.

Many early Islamic glass beads have been found in Mauritania and Mali, specifically in the caravan towns of Timbuktu, Mopti, Djenne and Gao. They vary in design and wear, patina and iridescence, and are somewhere in between 600-1000 years old (or more). Some have been buried for hundreds of years and may have once had eyes on them, or perhaps were made to be worn with and complement eye beads.

Note: photos of the beads have a light source behind them. The beads may appear darker hued in person as seen without a light source behind them.

Ancient Glass Item 111n

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