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Get a gift of vintage beads with every purchase. Just our way to say THANK YOU!
Get a gift of vintage beads with purchase!
A strand of mixed ancient and antique glass Indo Pacific / nila beads found in Mali.
These beads are found widely in the Djenne region in Mali as it is a trade crossroads with a history of centuries of trade with India, other parts of Africa, the Middle East and Europe.
This strand includes many shades of glass beads, including rare transclucent red glass Indo-Pacific / nila beads as well as a few red and yellow European glass beads. It also includes long blue glass rare kori beads, which were first documented in the 1500s in Benin.
24 inches of beads. Smaller beads range from 2-5mm diameter. Kori beads measure in the range of 5mm diameter and average length of 21mm.
Only one strand exactly like this available. You will receive the strand in the photos.
More info: Nila beads are the small monochrome Islamic 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 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.
As per bead expert, Jamey Allen: Islamic Period beads are ca. 1000 years old, dating generally from 900-1200, but as early as CE 700, and as late as 1400. In 1400, Western Asian glass industries were destroyed by the conqueror Timur / Tamerlane. And soon after, Egypt stop producing glass beads as well. This is when Venice stepped in and became the primary glass manufacturer for Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean.
African Item 0624c
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Rita Okrent Collection
1585 Hillsmont Drive
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