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Small Ancient Glass Indo-Pacific Nila Beads in Blue, Translucent White and Green - Rita Okrent Collection (AT1934)

RARE FIND: only one in our inventory

Lovely strand of soft and well worn Indo Pacific - Trade Wind - Nila Beads. 

Cobalt, light green, translucent and off white hues.

Measurements: 25 inches  / 63 cm of beads . Beads measure in the range of 3.5 mm diameter.

Age: Circa 1200-1600 C.E. These glass beads are from the early Islamic era, and were found in the Mali. Estimated to be at least several hundred years old, likely originally manufactured elsewhere and used for trade and currency. 

These gorgeous beads are great for design of all sorts of necklaces, earrings and bracelets. They wear beautifully with their natural absorption of the body's oils. Really a favorite bead in the collection for so many reasons. Great as spacers or seed beads.

 

More info:
Nila / dardig beads are the antique and ancient glass beads than can be found in colors ranging from blue, green, red, black, white to yellow that are widespread in West Africa. They are sometimes also referred to as Indo-Pacific or Trade Winds beads, in reference to the ocean streams and winds that, for centuries, were used by the Arab merchant ships bringing them from India to Africa. They often have oxidization patina from burial and age. Large quantities have been found along the river banks of the Niger river in Mali and buried in large quantities in clay pots, used as a form of currency. They are also found in the ground in parts of West Africa and Southeast Asia. The name "Nila" comes from the Sanskrit term for indigo. There is debate among bead researchers about where these beads were originally manufactured and if they were reworked in Africa. 

As research and technology evolves, there is a greater ability to verify glass bead making by local manufacture in West Africa.
Some useful reference articles:
https://theconversation.com/how-we-found-the-earliest-glass-production-south-of-the-sahara-and-what-it-means-142059

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317775780_Ancient_History_of_Technology_in_West_Africa_The_Indigenous_GlassGlass_Bead_Industry_and_the_Society_in_Early_Ile-Ife_Southwest_Nigeria

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gao

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songhai_Empire. 

African Item 1934

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