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The following 100 messages have been found.
(Search pattern:kiffa, since Thu, Nov 27, 2003, 04:32:11)
Posted by: TASART  Contact author
05/12/2006, 19:21:50
My African Spur Thighed Sulcata, (Tortoise), is enjoying the hot weather today, 100 in the shade!!! Here he is checking out some strands for color and rarity!
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
05/12/2006, 19:26:43
And like his human buddy the Tortoise, "Turbo", picks Kiffa beads over all else. Here he is licking his chops as he approaches his prize. I won't let him know that these are modern attempts at Kiffa beads, they fall quite a bit short of the older, by far better, versions.
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
05/12/2006, 19:30:26
a package arrived from Austria today.......who would have guessed you can still find Kiffas in Austria!!!! These are some "Vaseline" and "Green Heart" versions, gorgeous little examples of "bottle glass" Kiffa Beads!
Thank you Anne!!!
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
05/12/2006, 19:31:24
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
05/12/2006, 19:32:23
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
05/12/2006, 19:35:47
The modern imitations from West Africa, made in a similar style but not even close when it comes to exacting detail anmd overall beauty!!!!
The background is a dead palm leaf that turned a wonderful yellow.
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Posted by: Evelyn Contact author
05/13/2006, 05:31:26
Hi Thomas, Speaking of "Kiffa" beads/Murakad/Maure powder glass beads, the beads in your previous post are modern versions of the genuine article. Depicted below are two "fakes". Both are made of plastic, possibly in Senegal - the blue triangular bead appears to have been mould-made. The spherical bead's decorative pattern was painted on with oil paint.
Cheers,
Evelyn
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
05/12/2006, 19:37:16
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
05/13/2006, 08:02:57
Hello Evelyn,
I am taking your comments: "Speaking of "Kiffa" beads/Murakad/Maure powder glass beads, the beads in your previous post are MODERN VERSIONS of the genuine article." as a correction to what I wrote previously. Apparently you only read the title "fake Kiffa beads" and not the content, I wrote: “The MODERN IMITATIONS from West Africa made in a similar style but not even close when it comes to exacting detail and overall beauty!!!!". When I used the word "fake" in the title, in context, as it relates to the post, I was using it correctly.
If one reads "fake" as a Noun, it would mean: "One that is not authentic or genuine". Which these beads are. If one reads "fake" as a Verb, it would mean: “To simulate", which these beads do, and if one were to read the word "fake" as an Adjective, it would mean: “false, imitation", which would also apply in the context in which I use the word "fake". The antonyms include: genuine, original, real, true, truthful, which of course these beads are not, (in my context). I did not use it in the same context as "Real Synthetic Fur", as do you with your implication. Are you 100% positive that the blue triangle is plastic and not WAX? I have observed several wax varieties over the past 20 years.
Thomas
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Posted by: Evelyn Contact author
05/13/2006, 09:19:13
Thomas, No matter how one chooses to read/interpret your text, the beads that you are showing are neither fakes nor are they imitations. They are being manufactured by the same techniques as the older (traditional)
"Kiffa" beads. The fact that most don't even come close does not mean that they are fakes, and by looking at their decorative patterns it is quite obvious that often their maker/s did not even try to imitate the designs observed on traditional beads. Nevertheless, the beads do not simulate anything - they ARE modern-day Mauritanian powder glass beads (or Murakad or "Kiffa" beads, whatever one prefers to call them). They are being manufactured by using the same methods (not mould-made, and in the wet core powder glass technique) as are characteristic for traditional (older) Murakad. Maybe their modern versions could be called "latest generation Murakad"? For comparison, the image below shows dry core powder glass renditions, mould-made in Ghana by a Krobo bead maker. These beads simulate or imitate "Kiffa" beads but they will, of course, never be these, because they were made by using a different technique. They are mould-made, dry core powder glass beads, as is characteristic for Krobo pg beads. The method of applying the decorative patterns, however, is reminiscent of the method used in applying decorative patterns to Maure powder glass beads (old and new). The blue triangular bead I showed in a previous post is some kind of hard plastic, not wax. Generally speaking, I believe that there are several different interpretations of when a bead should be termed a fake and when it ought better be called a copy/imitation - there have been discussions on this topic here at BCN if my memory serves me right? Evelyn
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
05/13/2006, 10:32:56
Evelyn,
This is a BOLD statement, “same techniques as the older (traditional) "Kiffa" beads.” The last time I checked the definition of techniques was:”skillfulness in the command of fundamentals deriving from practice and familiarity”, something these modern versions don’t even come close to showing. Of course they are imitations; they are made for the tourist industry for resale. They have nothing to do with the original intended use (whatever that may be) of the Traditional Kiffa Beads. I doubt they are made by blood relations of the original makers at all. Just because they are made in Mauritania, using wet powdered glass processes does not make them authentic in the context I refer to! They are MEANT to SIMULATE the originals for a MARKET of buyers, I call it imitate, simulate, mimic, fake or reproduce, I do not call it a modern authentic, true, original or genuine Kiffa bead. Yes, they are made in Mauritania, yes, they are wet powder glass beads, so what, they have nothing to do with the REAL beads. No, they don’t use the same skill, No, they don’t use the same glass types, No, they don’t use the same colors, No, they’re not made by the same people, No, they don’t use the same shapes, No, they are not made for the same purposes! In my humble opinion these beads are a modern IMITATION, made in a vaguely similar fashion for the sole purpose of CASHING in on the (bead collecting) success the “original, traditional” Kiffa beads.
My 2 cents, Thomas
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
05/13/2006, 10:56:05
There are numerous “traditional” Kiffa beads that do not even have a powdered glass core. Variations that use re-ground cores include many Spherical, Cylindrical and Lozenge shaped beads. Many “bottleglass” varieties, which BTW I pointed out, last year, are from reground Czech “Vaseline” glass beads. Some very rare Blue Lozenge shaped Kiffa beads also have “Vaseline” glass re-ground cores! These beads, even though the manufacturing methods vary from the bulk of the Kiffa bead population, I would still consider “Authentic” Kiffa beads. They were made by the Kiffa makers utilizing their traditional skills and artistry for their own use and not for marketing purposes that the modern imitations fulfill. Her I show a blue lozenge Kiffa, of older traditional manufacture, with a “Vaseline” glass core. Again, in my opinion, this bead, along with the older Red re-ground Lozenge shapes; I would consider authentic Kiffa beads.
Thomas
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
05/13/2006, 10:56:46
There are numerous “traditional” Kiffa beads that do not even have a powdered glass core. Variations that use re-ground cores include many Spherical, Cylindrical and Lozenge shaped beads. Many “bottleglass” varieties, which BTW I pointed out, last year, are from reground Czech “Vaseline” glass beads. Some very rare Blue Lozenge shaped Kiffa beads also have “Vaseline” glass re-ground cores! These beads, even though the manufacturing methods vary from the bulk of the Kiffa bead population, I would still consider “Authentic” Kiffa beads. They were made by the Kiffa makers utilizing their traditional skills and artistry for their own use and not for marketing purposes that the modern imitations fulfill. Here I show a blue lozenge Kiffa, of older traditional manufacture, with a “Vaseline” glass core. Again, in my opinion, this bead, along with the older Red re-ground Lozenge shapes; I would consider authentic Kiffa beads.
Thomas
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
05/13/2006, 10:59:02
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
05/13/2006, 11:10:10
The interesting thing about Red Lozenge shaped Kiffa beads is that a good percentage are not Wet Core Powdered Glass beads, they are re-ground beads of a European ancestry (quite possibly Bohemian, J.Busch). To my knowledge this is the only type that is 100% NOT Wet Powder Glass technology and is used in all the traditional settings as the authentic beads. I am a firm believer that the Traditional Kiffa bead makers re-ground these beads and used them in the same fashion as the WPG varieties.
Thomas The photo shows re-ground red lozenge shaped Kiffa beads
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
05/13/2006, 11:13:16
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Posted by: Luann Udell Contact author
05/08/2006, 07:01:37
Charles sent me some cool beads a few months ago, and I've fallen in love with them. He's offered to share his stash (thank you, Charles!) but I was wondering if anyone else has seen these for sale? Russ? Charles says he was told (and believes them to be) an unusual version of sandcast/powderglass beads from Ghana. I'm posting two links to images. The beads in question are sort of dark gray bodies with a "coating" of black, a trailed design in brown flecked with white, with dots of deep Capri blue around each hole. Hole is quite large but even all the way through (not cone-shaped.) Size is about 12mm. One bead is on the bracelet, the other is loose sitting next to it.
http://www.durable-goods.com/img/2006-05-08/IMGA0697.JPG and http://www.durable-goods.com/img/2006-05-08/IMGA0699.JPG Not sure I did the photo thing right. BTW, on the first link above, image 697, can you tell which of FOUR beads I made? One is the horse, of course! ;^)
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Posted by: Beadman Contact author
05/09/2006, 17:43:01
Hi Stefany, I'm not sure why you're confused, or what you may be confused about. This technique of bead decoration is well-documented. I don't think much can be considered a mystery, nor unknown. I saw this work being done at Odumase-Krobo in 1998 (the "painting" of the designs), and have collected many specimens (though a very small fraction of what has been made). I bought more on my most recent trip to Ghana this past February. First, the typical plain powderglass bead is made and cooled. Then it's decorated and fired. The first name for the beads (in English)—that is, indicating their decoration—was presented by Kirk Stanfield as "the writing method," since the Krobo name means "it is written." Though it is understandable (to us) that the concept of "painting" seems more apt than "writing," we were stuck with "writing-method beads" for a while. I was the first bead researcher (and probably the first person at all) to suggest that this technique (broadly) is a form of "enamelling"—and have, since that time, referred to these as "enamelled powderglass beads" for an English-speaking audience. I believe the decoration is added at one time, and then fired. I don't think there is a necessity for parts to be applied in separate sequences, with multiple firings of the beads. The secret of the success of this process is in the slurry that's made. The proportions must be correct, or else the decorations either fail to fuse or they flake-off during firing. The slurry is made from powdered glass, water, and something else I don't recall at the moment. Maybe gum. Jamey
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Posted by: Beadman Contact author
05/10/2006, 02:18:06
This is a photograph I took on September 21, 1998, in Odumase-Krobo, of a young man "painting" the designs onto a group of powderglass beads. The undecorated black beads can be seeen in a dish in front of him. To his left are all of the beads he has completed, drying. It's a pretty poor image, but I had to take it almost on the run, since we were on our way elsewhere at the time. I've Photoshopped it as much as I can to make it reasonably readable. In his lecture on glass-beadmaking, this past weekend, Robert Liu discussed the manufacture of muracad beads (Kiffa), and made comparisons to the Krobo method. There are certain similarities. Jamey
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Posted by: Claire Contact author
05/01/2006, 18:45:20
Greetings All Bead Lovers! Just wanted to stop by and send you all my happiest Spring wishes of green grass, soft breezes, gorgeous blossoms and most importantly GOOD beads!! Blessings one and all! Claire/Mountainamma
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
05/01/2006, 19:25:14
Thank you Claire,
Nice to hear from you here, thank you for the wonderful beads and may this Spring bring you many Blessings and Joy!!!
Some "Vaseline glass" Kiffa beads in a Spring setting, it's 94 degrees out right now and the sun is setting.
Thomas
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
05/01/2006, 19:26:05
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
04/30/2006, 08:53:40
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
04/30/2006, 08:54:49
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
04/30/2006, 08:55:34
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
04/30/2006, 08:56:09
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
04/30/2006, 08:56:43
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
04/30/2006, 16:50:57
Thanks guys! Sorting is very theraputic!
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Posted by: Logan Contact author
05/01/2006, 17:57:48
I am particularly drawn to strands 8, 9, and 10 - with the vertical stripes. Beautiful. Christine must be loving this post! ;)
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
05/01/2006, 19:09:49
The four beads on the right are the Kiffa beads, which in my opinion copy the four Islamic beads on the left.
Note that even the color sequence is similar, to me this is more than just coincidence.
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
05/01/2006, 19:10:24
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
04/25/2006, 13:32:19
something a little more modern....
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
04/25/2006, 13:41:16
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Posted by: claudian Contact author
04/24/2006, 17:07:54
Needed to show the concentric strands for the "title" to make any sense. Maybe I just should have tossed it, but the pictures that follow I hope you will enjoy. I just wanted to play with some beads, and kiffa are always the first ones I pick up (I wonder WHY???). Some of the beads I might not have shown before. There are so many things to notice even in the simplest of kiffa. They are truly miracles in miniature and I am forever thankful that I bought that first one from Jan! And please, no "murakad" stuff here. I know, I know already....ad nauseum. Enjoy the pics!!
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Posted by: claudian Contact author
04/24/2006, 17:08:50
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Posted by: claudian Contact author
04/24/2006, 17:09:17
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Posted by: claudian Contact author
04/24/2006, 17:09:51
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Posted by: claudian Contact author
04/24/2006, 17:11:28
I haven't seen one like it..but I suspect I am about too!!! LOL-sm
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
04/22/2006, 16:21:51
Some polychrome Kiffa triangles.....
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
04/22/2006, 17:17:15
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Posted by: njstark Contact author
04/23/2006, 06:32:02
My God you must be wealthy. The street price for this many Kiffas must be about $7500 USD. Nancy
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
04/23/2006, 09:54:57
Actually I'm a workin' stiff, wealthy in spirit and family (and a few beads)!!! I have loved Kiffa beads since I saw and bouight my first one, a number of years ago. Not only Abdul's first Kiffas but Ebrima's also, before he ever made it to the Tucson show for the first time, he stopped off at a place in the Arizona desert called Quartzsite, the major gathering of shows, a month prior to the Tucson shows (it has since become very commercial and cheapened somewhat). In the first photo there are about 100 unbroken polychrome Kiffas (with a few broken ones mixed in), even in the beginning of my collecting days they were getting about $50 each for these, individually. There are some here that I would value at $50 each, all the way up to $400.
Thomas
P.S.
The pic shows some size diffences. The largest is
31.3mmX19mmX12.5mm thick
and the smallest pictured is 12mmX8.3mmX7.2mm thick
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
04/18/2006, 19:47:40
whites, blues, greens, yellows, black/violets, pinks etc.
from Mauritania
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
04/18/2006, 19:49:13
in my collections these are the most numerous behind traditional wet powdered glass.
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
04/18/2006, 19:50:10
various shades of blue
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
04/18/2006, 19:51:27
the core colors are so deep they appear black
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
04/18/2006, 20:08:02
the bottom row has an unusual bead with two different colored bead cores exposed (see the black arrows). The PG designs are as plain and simple as it gets on these.
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Posted by: adjichristine Contact author
04/17/2006, 16:17:04
Found this unusual small bead on a strand of Kiffa! Of course, the trader said that it was indeed kiffa! But, it has a red core! I do own an unusual one with the millefiori-like inserts but, I've never seen one like this! Thomas, your opinion, please!!
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Posted by: adjichristine Contact author
04/17/2006, 16:19:58
This is a lovely bead! In great shape but, I'm intrigued by the red core. It almost looks as if it was built around a small red bead??????
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Posted by: adjichristine Contact author
04/17/2006, 16:24:55
I've always wanted to own one of these! I was glad to buy the little round version of the long one!
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
04/17/2006, 18:15:58
These are reported to have come from Oualata, considered rarer than "Kiffas"..............here are two with visible red cores....
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Posted by: Evelyn Contact author
04/18/2006, 05:01:58
Archaeological evidence of wet-core powder glass ("Kiffa") bead making has been found at a number of places, throughout Mauritania. Oualata is only one of these. It is probably best remembered as the village where the last documented traditional bead maker practised her craft. R. Mauny 1949), J. Gabus (1970s) and J. Busch (1990s) all visited and interviewed Lalla Aicha, and it is known from their reports that Lalla Aicha had resorted to applying simple decorations consisting mainly of dots, circles and lines to pre-fabricated beads of possibly Czech origins because of her advanced age and her failing eyesight. It can be assumed, however, that other bead makers (for very practical reasons) also used imported monochrome beads, once they were readily available to them, which they decorated with their powder glass pastes in a variety of styles: some are almost completely hidden, i.e. covered by decorative patterns, and the pre-fabricated "cores" can only be detected on looking closely at, and inside, the perforations; others have very simple decorations which leave the original bead plainly visible (one such example is the light blue bead in image below, at right). Although red beads appear to have been preferred (or perhaps they were most easily available in this colour?) I have seen these in various shades of blue and green and also in white. Perhaps other colours exist as well. Cheers,
Evelyn
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Posted by: gabriel Contact author
04/12/2006, 09:14:37
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
04/13/2006, 14:57:47
Hi Christine,
I thank you for the Kudos but they are undeserved. There are a few real nice collections that far surpass mine.....Juergen Busch, Robert Hill, Patrique from Africa, David from Dakar, Claudian?, Claire?, JP?, the Oppers, a few Japanese collections, some museums and so forth.....
I just have the biggest mouth right now on this forum when it comes to Kiffas!
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
04/13/2006, 15:02:18
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
04/03/2006, 09:17:31
This topic has been discussed but I believe it is worthy of being brought up again. We all have ways of storing, housing or displaying our bead collections. I get great ideas from the shared photos on this forum as it relates to the housing of collections and I hope others do as well. I have in the past shown pictures of my giant printers cabinet and dental cabinet that house a large portion of the collections. Today I want to focus on some smaller options that work quite well. The two cabinets I really like are the "Watchmakers" and the "Spool" cabinet varieties. Do an eBay search for these and you can typically find a nice assortment in all price ranges. The ones that I find the best to use for beads have wooden inserts in the drawers that have rounded groove routered out. These hold beads very well and makes sorting easy also.
The first phot is of a Watchmakers small parts cabinet that has stackable components.
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
04/03/2006, 10:48:11
Not only is this old dental cabinet a great piece of furniture but the drawers are plentiful and spacious. These drawers allow me to lay out triangle Kiffa beads and sort them according to types etc.
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
04/03/2006, 10:54:22
the nice thing about deeper drawers is that one can insert dividers of many types, here I shoa trays with compartments that house varying types of smaller round Kiffa beads.
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
04/03/2006, 12:54:20
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Posted by: Carl Dreibelbis Contact author
03/31/2006, 06:22:10
Since we are advertising in Ornament Magazine we got a preview copy of the Spring Issue, Vol. 29, No.3 at Africa Direct. This issue has a wonderful article written by Evelyn Simak titled, Traditional Mauritanian Powder-Glass Kiffa Beads. The articles consists of 5 pages and includes illustrations by Robert Liu and Evelyn Simak. It covers the history and the variants of traditional Kiffa Beads. Good article!
CONGRATULATIONS Evelyn!
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Posted by: claudian Contact author
03/30/2006, 13:47:07
Being still somewhat out of action due to family and health issues I can see that the Forum certainly can be an ill-tempered place even without me! What a relief..well not really. These are four beads acquired from across the pond in the last few months. A stunning wound and trailed Islamic with the COOLEST colors, about 3/4" and also an Islamic tabular with four canes. Then there are two little kiffa, the smallest being the teardrop-shaped type seen somewhat infrequently and a somwhat larger one with a spiraling striped motif. Enjoy-Steve
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
03/27/2006, 18:25:34
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
03/27/2006, 18:31:31
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
03/27/2006, 18:32:37
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Posted by: thengan Contact author
03/27/2006, 16:15:39
Chevron bead in the form of a trussed duck ... (35 mm )
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
03/27/2006, 16:19:03
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Posted by: thengan Contact author
03/27/2006, 17:51:40
Sorry ! I'm not a fan of chevrons , or kiffas ...
Roman glass intaglio ring .. ( 18 mm )
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Posted by: Patrick Contact author
03/22/2006, 10:12:56
17X18mm. & 7x8mm. Both Venetian wound beads.
Patrick.
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
03/23/2006, 16:59:55
My largest and smallest of the round Kiffas
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
03/23/2006, 17:02:01
The polychrome Triangle (small) is a "bottle-glass" version
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
03/20/2006, 13:59:26
One of the perks from collecting Kiffa Beads is that sometimes other collectors share images and information about their beads with you.
These next two groups were shown to me this past month, the first set through photos and the second set in person (which I then photographed).
It would be great to get as many collections of these little gems photo documented for the purposes of doing a rough population of different types.
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
03/20/2006, 14:02:44
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Posted by: Charles Contact author
02/05/2006, 21:53:16
These are some of the best money can buy and were found in the African Village.
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Posted by: Charles Contact author
02/05/2006, 22:09:16
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Posted by: Charles Contact author
02/05/2006, 22:10:35
Kiffa in hand.
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Posted by: Finfan Contact author
02/05/2006, 08:17:02
I got to go to the Best Bead show and the Rodeway again this weekend. I'm afraid I got too busy looking at the wares to photograph a virtual tour. I did get a couple of shots though.
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Posted by: Finfan Contact author
02/05/2006, 09:02:14
Well since the "Mysterious Wooden Box" thread went over so well I took a couple of quick shots while hanging around. Here are some of Alhaji Kairas Strands.
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Posted by: Finfan Contact author
02/05/2006, 09:04:24
Plus a close up. Sorry I didn't think to turn that Kiffa over!
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Posted by: claudian Contact author
02/04/2006, 13:58:41
Got tired of not wearing kiffa so I put three from the group I just got from "across the pond" with some faience mummy bead pieces and some Nila beads. Hey, nobody ever said I was Harry Winston! The beads do the talking anyway. Enjoy-Steve
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Posted by: Donna C. Contact author
02/04/2006, 14:44:00
Steve - the Pond Vulture gets around! Mine are obviously newer - but I just love these ... especially since I can't really afford the old ones! Oh yikes! The picture is definitely bigger than I anticipated!
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Posted by: claudian Contact author
02/03/2006, 14:19:19
this is a very cool bead so I put it first. sm
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Posted by: claudian Contact author
02/03/2006, 14:20:39
Has a lovely light green core which is used in the design. Large, almost 28mm. sm
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
02/01/2006, 10:24:04
Bully had 3 strands of the finest hand select polychrome Kiffa / Murakad.
A few beads on these strands are some of the rarest I have ever seen.
The blue with poly dot is rare but not extremely rare....stay tuned for a close-up...
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
02/01/2006, 10:49:08
The 2 polychrome lozenge shapes are two of the rarest I know. I peronally have never seen or read about a polychrome lozenge shape Kiffa/Murakad. This strand was sold about 20 minutes after I took the photos.
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
02/01/2006, 10:52:04
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
02/01/2006, 10:59:34
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Posted by: anne bauer Contact author
02/01/2006, 11:24:35
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
02/01/2006, 09:41:32
The following strands were the part of the collection being "liquidated" by Ebrima that were still available when I arrived with my camera!!!
(I got there opening day, early)!
I shot the pics on a custom background consisting of Ebrima's back brace! I did help a few collectors choose from these strands as to the whys and why-nots of which to purchase first etc. the lighting was poor so I had to use flash which can create problems, I apologize for the image qualities. You will see strands dating back 15 years or so to the present, some of the mixes on the strands are weird (lots of other types mixed in) because as Kiffa's got scarcer the Africans would add to the strands to compensate. This are in no particular order......plus the shots don't include some PRIZE strands that were already sold!
Enjoy, Thomas
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
02/01/2006, 09:44:30
the arrow is pointing to a fairly modern milli with Murano Rooster!
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
02/01/2006, 09:46:21
note the painted bead!!!
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
02/01/2006, 09:49:41
less Venetians on this one.....11 polychrome triangles.....
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
02/01/2006, 10:03:42
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
02/01/2006, 10:08:54
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
02/01/2006, 10:11:03
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
02/01/2006, 10:13:04
the last one in this series......BUT ther will be more!
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
01/31/2006, 15:33:05
OK, just arrived in Phoenix an hour ago, past 4 days running on fumes!!! So many beads, so little time, so many GREAT people!
I won't add too much commentary and I'll let the photos speak for themselves.
These belong to Bob, a collector who I encouraged to start joining in with posting here at the BCN.
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
01/31/2006, 15:35:41
Notice how he is grinning from ear to ear....I was too, when he let me touch these Kiffas!
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
01/31/2006, 15:37:25
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
01/25/2006, 10:02:08
A few lucky souls in the Phoenix/Glendale, Arizona area met with Ebrima Sillah last evening.....Stick a fork in me....I'm DONE!!!! Aside from the usual really cool stuff he is lugging to Tucson, he has with him 11 of the most impressive strands of Murakad/Kiffa beads I have seen for sale in ages!!! They are from an older collection from the US that is now being broken up and sold. The strand price is $2,500 per.!!!
Which, of course, seems outrageously high until you study the strands up close and realize that at least 6 of the strands have beads that may never be available again and the other 5 have beads that are typically sold only per bead and not by the strand. Several hours of wiping sweat and drool were spent by me examining these very carefully and I did find beads amongst them that I had never seen before in person. This is by far the largest collection of impressive Kiffas I have seen offered for sale in many years. Oh to be a RICH collector (thinking aloud while looking at them). I believe he will sell most of them at the show, just because of the rarety and beauty of them. Please this by no means a commercial for Ebrima Sillah (who sets up at the Roadway around the corner from Abdul) but a recommendation to visit with him and have him show you these strands before they are all gone again (tell him Thomas sent you). I don't know of a museum or other venue that has this many in one place for viewing!
I know I'm biased when it comes to my love for Kiffa beads, be that as it may, this collection is worth seeing!
Thomas
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
01/26/2006, 10:05:11
The one I opted for has 90 Murakad/Kiffa beads and 15 small round Islamics. (There are at least 4 more I would get if finances permitted) and I am very picky when it comes to Kiffas!!!!
In answer to Steve's question:
Depending on the diameters of the smaller round beads I am guesstimating the other strands also have approximately 100 beads per.
I am also cautioning anyone interested in buying a strand to study each one very carefully....there are some with newer beads and some with very old beads! Study the quality of the patterns, the line count, the precision, the overall composition. I spent about 4 hours looking them over in an undisturbed setting (not possible in Tucson) and I can say that there are some extremely rare beauties on a few of the strands.
these strands were all bought by one collector from one seller over a period of 15 years or more....you can see the evolution of the "strands" (how their composition has changed over the years) by looking at them close and comparing. The "older" strands have about 10-15 polychrome triangular beads in most cases, undamaged to slightly undamaged condition. Watch out for the newer strands the larger beads are of a more modern manufacture but there are other "sleeper" beads mixed in amongst them. I could not afford to buy all I want from this collection but if I run into any of you that is interested when I'm there I will share my insights as to the best for the money! Now I've got to get back to work so I can afford the gas for my 1-1/2 hour drive to Tucson Saturday morning!!!
Thomas
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Posted by: claudian Contact author
01/26/2006, 13:40:25
plus the Islamics??? You buy in a totally different universe from me Thomas, but I want a fast plane to wherever that is. I just received some glorious new kiffa, well new old, oh hell, you know what I mean. I know I SHOULD put a price on them, but it is hard for me to. It's like if I were starving to death and all the restaurant had left was the $300 Fugu sushi...I would eat it and well, probably die, but I would not starve. If I could trade all my ancients for high quality kiffa I probably would. That maybe tells you how much I love them. If the guy is gonna leave Tucson with any of those strands please pass along my email. I would love to see what they look like. Here is a pic of a wonderful small triangle that I just received. The smallest I have seen. It has lovely overall wear but is intact. How does one tell if they have an old kiffa?? There are so many mysteries surrounding them. sm
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
01/26/2006, 14:57:07
LOADED QUESTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am going to give you my take on what I consider the answer to this GRAND question to be.
Actual dates for these beads are not known so I won’t venture a guess right now.
By "older" I am typically referring to the manufacturing process that is the pinnacle of perfection regarding Kiffa/Murakad beads. For my explanations I will be using polychrome triangular as examples…. The lines are straight, crisp, solid, uniform, tiny, bold, and perfect, every detail is as good as it gets, etc.
The best way to see this is with a visual side by side display. I will in the near future do some more Kiffa postings to show what I am trying to explain.
The "older" more perfect beads seem like they were made by a master craftsman, individually designed and created in a painstaking process that must have taken hours or days for a single bead.
More knowledgeable bead researchers than I can explain the varied uses and conditions of wear for these beads but I believe they were not mass produced originally. Motives can be similar but you will be hard pressed to find any two identical (this of course does not apply to the simpler and plainer bracelet beads or the monochrome triangles etc.).
Newer in age, but not those we find being produced presently, are beads, that at a quick glance resemble the “older” beads. One must “get in tight” to examine the differences. The designs are still very pleasing to the eye and the colors are still “correct” (time constraints force this to be explained in the future). The lines are not as tight or crisp and they are much fatter than before. Some beads show a running or bleeding of one color into another, that, when viewed under magnification is just not a crisp as it should be.
Typically the shape can also be somewhat out of alignment. The lines tend to waver a bit. Someone who has never seen a great “older” Kiffa bead would assume these to be the “older” ones. These beads still fall under the heading of “real Kiffa/Murakad” bead and I don’t believe they were massed produced for the western market. In my opinion they are the “newer old” ones.
Now we go on to the “new” ones. These types are what we can expect to find in the marketplace today. The colors and craftsmanship are the first sign of new manufacture! Some lean towards a yellowish/orange color that is NOT correct by any stretch of the imagination. The beads look like blobs at times and the lines/designs are wavy, fat and bleeding all over! These are not the true Kiffa/Murakad beads true collectors love, they are “mass” produced for a western market. They have a place in collections for comparison or if one is inclined to study the evolution of these beads. I compare them to true Kiffas the same way I compare Star beads from India to Venetian Chevrons.
Please, these are some of my thoughts on this subject and not gospel, time won’t permit me to expand on this subject anymore right now and I speak much better with pictures anyway, which will come soon.
Thomas
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Posted by: adjichristine Contact author
01/28/2006, 08:59:10
Your explanation was interesting and instructive and right on the money! I believe that you are fast becoming a kiffa expert!!! Your advantage is that you own many exemples of kiffas which puts you in the position to study them and make comparisons!!! The older, almost, perfect kiffa, is quite rare!!! You can examine quite a few strands before you find that one bead that knocks you out because of its fine details and intricate designs!! You know that this bead was made by a master bead maker!! To really appreciate a bead like this , one must remember under what conditions it was made!!. In the desert, using the crudest tools. It is flabbergasting to know that these Mauritanian women can make such fine, straight lines! I admire thier skill so much! Here is an exemple of a fine kiffa. The picture does not do this bead justice! I've examined it in every way and it is wonderful!!! I would like to make a side comment about strands of kiffas! I own a strand that one forumite said is not strung in the typical way!!!!!! Many apparently do not know that kiffa strands that appear on the market are actually strung by African traders! My Mauritanian women friends DO NOT KEEP THEIR KIFFA ON A STRING!!! Each are individually hidden away and shown to very few non-Mauritanians!!!So, when you speak of what is typical or not, you should base your opinion on the number of strands of kiffa that you have seen that were actually put together by Mauritanian women!!!!!
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Posted by: Russ Nobbs Contact author
01/26/2006, 19:46:15
These kind of pale when we are talking 80 year old Kiffa beads but I was impressed with these very nicely matched, very long strands. Probably a similar age, tho... 1890's to 1930's? The measuring tape is inches, not cm!
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Posted by: Carl Dreibelbis Contact author
01/08/2006, 11:50:32
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
01/09/2006, 09:21:32
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
01/09/2006, 09:58:44
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
01/09/2006, 10:01:37
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Posted by: adjichristine Contact author
12/24/2005, 16:02:03
I'm fascinated by this little beauty! I have seven layer green chevrons in my collection but, this my first little one!!
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Posted by: adjichristine Contact author
12/24/2005, 16:44:28
These kiffa beads found their way to me just today! Kiffa is always welcome in my home! (smile)
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Posted by: adjichristine Contact author
12/24/2005, 16:51:28
These kiffas are usually found on kiffa necklaces as fillers. They are made by the mauritanian women. I was happy to pick these out among the bowl of kiffa that someone brought to me because I need to put together a few more kiffa strings!
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Posted by: Carl Dreibelbis Contact author
12/03/2005, 17:23:36
These are wonderful old wound Venetian beads. These disks are quite large at 8mm x 25mm vs. the normal sized ones (5mm x 15mm)used as spacers. I like these a bunch.
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Posted by: Paula Contact author
12/03/2005, 18:21:49
A few of us from the DC Bead Society enjoyed a visit from Abdul and Tamba three weeks ago, but obviously didn't scoop up all the goodies that eventually made their way to Texas. Here's a fun Indonesian kiffa necklace that is among the beads I bought and am happy to own. Thanks Abdul!
Paula
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Posted by: Paula Contact author
12/03/2005, 18:22:33
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Posted by: Abdul Touray Contact author
10/09/2005, 16:13:31
Greetings Everyone am Back In Los Angeles after spending 9 Days In London I Realy Enjoyed my stay and it was very Nice to meet stephen from Lyon and Natalie for the first time Especial thanks to Stefany Evelyn and David for making things Easy for me thanks
Abdul
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Posted by: Evelyn Contact author
10/10/2005, 08:54:08
Glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay in the UK. It was a pleasure to meet you again, and to see your colourful selection of beautiful and interesting beads. I well remember the beads you show in your image! You might remember these - the first Ghana powder glass "kiffa" beads that I have ever seen. Thanks. Evelyn
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Posted by: claudian Contact author
10/03/2005, 15:06:26
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Posted by: Margot Contact author
10/02/2005, 16:59:12
is tying the knot?
Just wishing you and your lovely bride all the best!!
Margot
PS A few of my favourite kiffas in celebration!
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Posted by: claudian Contact author
09/29/2005, 15:06:49
Stumbled into a pristine strand of kiffa that were bought in the 70's in Zagora, Morocco. There were 29 total and I was able to buy 9 of them, measuring from 20mm for the longest cylinder down to about 11mm for the smallest round--"mid-size" I would call them. I was thrilled when they arrived. I have posted two views of the entire group and some single pics of individual beads. They are some of the most gorgeous and well-preserved I have seen, and a few look to be very old. One of the rounds with a complex concentric design has an interesting angled perforation that is about 6mm on one end down to about 3mm. I haven't seen that before. Could just be wear though...I hope to list his remaining beads on the trades page. It includes six perfect blue triangles and 4 red ones, as well as 9 more amazing smaller rounds. Enjoy-Steve
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Posted by: claudian Contact author
09/29/2005, 15:08:00
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Posted by: claudian Contact author
09/29/2005, 15:09:53
you can see the smaller perf-end in the group pics. I LOVE this bead!
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Posted by: claudian Contact author
09/29/2005, 15:12:11
I think this is my favorite of the bunch!
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Posted by: claudian Contact author
09/29/2005, 15:13:12
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Posted by: claudian Contact author
09/29/2005, 15:14:41
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Posted by: claudian Contact author
09/29/2005, 15:15:15
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Posted by: Degumay sumareh Contact author
09/12/2005, 10:57:51
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
09/13/2005, 12:30:49
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Posted by: TASART Contact author
09/13/2005, 17:10:05
The beads I can make out are great beads, I see Murakad/Kiffa, recycled 6 or 7 layered Chevrons, Some unusual "what appears to be" Czech beads, ETC..... I tried to get a better pic using some technology but it only worked somewhat with one picture. The problems with the photos are the lighting is too low and the focus is way off, plus on a couple the camera or the subject was not steady. I wouldn't try to get in real close, put the focus on auto and turn up the lights. The reulting image can then be cropped for maximum effect.
Thomas
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Posted by: adjichristine Contact author
08/28/2005, 14:58:33
I was looking at the bead pendents ( beads with wire attached) on my unusual kiffa necklace and found this little bead that I think might be Islamic??? What do yo think??? It is a 9mm short convex shaped bead. It has a dragged pattern. It is yellow/black with a black core!!!!!I removed the wire because I will not put it back on the necklace. It looks too special!
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Posted by: adjichristine Contact author
08/27/2005, 14:10:24
These larger than saucers ancient quartz disks were found at the new bead musuem in Gandiole, Senegal! They are just getting started but, they are doing a wonderful job showing beads and how they were worn by the people! I was real proud to visit this musuem called. musee!!! LE PETIT MUSEE !!!!
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Posted by: adjichristine Contact author
08/27/2005, 14:21:56
This wonderful necklace is owned by Ismael, Saint-louis, Senegal. Ismael makes rare necklaces of KIFFA, SCORAZALITE, MORFIA ETC! You just tell him what you dream about having and within a reasonable amount of time he will get it for you ! The beads will be strung in choker length necklaces with antique silver or just the beads. The kiffa chokers are made with several triangular beads and they are absolutely to die for! Be prepared to pay the PRICE!!!!!! I bought kiffa from him after not being able to find it anywhere else! Ismael is French married to a Senegalese woman. he has carved hisself a little corner of paradise in Africa. A visit to his place to sit down and look and talk beads is nothing short of wonderful!!!!!
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Posted by: anne bauer Contact author
08/11/2005, 13:17:48
Hello All I found this bead in a box of odds and ends. It has the shape of a Kiffa, the size of a Kiffa, the core of a Kiffa (one small chip shows it) but the rest is obviously handpainted. Crudely and with funny design and i think with acrylic colours. Any ideas?
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Posted by: anne bauer Contact author
08/11/2005, 13:18:41
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Posted by: Carl Dreibelbis Contact author
08/11/2005, 19:16:26
I saw some similar beads this spring mixed in with old kiffas. Most of the painted beads were "repaired" old kiffas. When I say "repaired", I mean painted with acrylic paint. Some just had a small touch up, some had the space equivalent of half the bead painted, some had the whole bead painted like yours. Interesting.
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Posted by: Jan Skipper Contact author
08/12/2005, 04:49:16
Here is an example I pulled from my files that was damaged and repaired with paint. probably a fairly common occurence (?). It is about 12 mm in diameter.
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