Ancient Glass Nila Beads from Mali, Mainly Tubes - Strand E - Rita Okrent Collection (AT0649e)

A collector's strand of ancient glass beads including rare translucent maroon tubes, several teal and green glass beads and antique indigo tube beads on this mixed strand of glass Indo-Pacific / nila beads, found in Mali. 

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. It is thought that these nila beads were manufactured elsewhere and often reworked by glassmakers in West Africa. Many nila beads have oxidization patina from burial and age.

28 inches of beads. Bead size ranges from 4-15mm diameter.

Circa 1200-1600 A.D.

Nila beads are the small  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 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 circa 1000 years old, dating from between  CD 900-1200. They might be as early as CE 700, and as late as 1400. In 1400, Western Asian glass industries were destroyed by Tamerlane. And soon after, Egypt desisted as well. This is when Venice stepped in and became the glassmaker for all of Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean.

African Trade Item 0649e