Very Long Strand of Ancient Mixed Beads from West Africa - Rita Okrent Collection (AT1891)

An 80+ inch / 6.6 feet + 203 cm+ very long strand of ancient mixed glass nila, koli/kori beads and bauxite or carnelian beads from the Sahel/West Africa.  Includes white, dust blue, dark blue teal and brownish red beads. Mixed sizees and shapes.
Some beads as old as Circa 1200 - 1600 AD, others may be circa 1700-1800.
Lots to work with. The length of 4 regular bead strands, this came to the collection in one long strand.
Great for designers making a set or multiples of something / a family of designs.

Nila 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.

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
African Item 1891