Description

Selected ancient Islamic beads approximately 900-1200 AD.
Strand includes: mosaic, folded/mirror, trailed, rare amaranth mosaic eye beads, blue eye beads and more.
Also three Venetian 16th c. chevron beads.
Normal surface erosion due to burial in the desert sands.
Collected in Mali.

Diameters: 9mm to 16mm
Height: 7mm to 20mm
Length: 52 cm (20 1/2″)
43 beads

References:
Middle Eastern and Venetian Glass Beads, by Augusto Panini, p. 53
A Bead Timeline, volume I: Prehistory to 1200 CE, by James W. Lankton.

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.