AFRICA
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GHANAIAN POWDER GLASS BEADS
of primarily
adjagba types, many with cruciform decoration of powder glass and decoration
from preformed elements, both indigenous and European, such as foreground
bead with chevron fragments. Largest bead is ca. 5 cm long. Those with
spiral lines have been twisted in the mold while glass was still viscous.
Postfiring procedures, like grinding of the bead ends so they fit well
on a strand, are visible on many. Upper left bead is Venetian with trailed
decoration. Courtesy of Picard Collection. |
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 YORUBA
NECKLACE
from Nigeria. Multiple strands of small Venetian and Czech beads are strung
through large European glass beads, making fringes at both ends of the
necklace; each large bead has fertility ringlets. The necklace demonstrates
the phenomenon of accumulation as well as the great skill of the Yoruba.
White beads are 3.0 cm diameter: length is 164 cm. Some of the large monochrome
glass beads from Nigeria are similar in appearance to Chinese glass beads
in shape and inclusions. See Liu 1992b for complete view of this necklace;
as well as an outstanding Yoruba braided one. Courtesy of Picard Collection.
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© 1995-2008 by Robert K. Liu and Ornament Inc. All rights reserved. |
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ANTIQUE
INDIAN-MADE AGATE AND CARNELIAN BEADS beads from Mali,
with a few Venetian glass beads; largest tabular bead is 3.0 cm long.
Some of the smaller beads look similar to those excavated in Mali.
Because the outermost strand of tabular beads and some of the adjacent
date-shaped beads are crude, it is likely these are lapidary products
of Cambay, India, given the long dominance of Indians in the African
agate bead trade. Compare the quality of the stones, shapes, precision
of the lapidary work, and polish to those on page 15. (See Liu 1984c).
Courtesy of Picard Collection.