Description

Ancient faience and Islamic period glass beads with a rich burial patina and iridescence.
Faience, with likely origins in Egypt, is a glazed non-clay ceramic material, with quartz as its main component.
Crossing the desert towns of Djenne, Gao and Timbuktu, beads and a variety of goods were traded along these ancient caravan routes.
The wound beads, in rich colours of blues, greens and turquoise are in a various shapes, with a large four facet focal bead.
There is some surface pitting, normal for beads of such great age.
Strand of 28 beads, temporary stringing on nylon.
Dating to the 1200-1600s,
Collected in Mali.

Length: 8mm to 22mm
Width: 6mm to 12mm
Strand: 35 cm (13 1/2″)

About ANCIENT BEADS
Beads are carriers of history and traditions and are as old as the beginning of human existence.
Islamic period beads traveled extensively along the trans-Saharan trade routes.
Their widespread distribution reflects the role of the Islamic world as a centre in medieval commerce.
Beads crossed continents, seas and deserts to be traded and valued as symbols of wealth and social rank.
Islamic glass bead production spans several centuries, and the production techniques are complex and varied.