| Original Message: Morfia and Egypt |
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I mentioned in a separate post, yesterday, that the Islamic Period rolled-pad beads that are called "morfia" in Mauritania were originally made in Egypt, at Fustat. This is a perspective I have promoted for quite a few years, and is supported by articles composed by Peter Francis, Jr. (who often did not agree with me, but in this instance did). In the 1970s and early 1980s, when our particular rolled-pad beads occasionally appeared in the marketplace, they were routinely called "Roman beads from Egypt." This made their collective ages about a thousand years too early. I was instrumental in changing that perspective, and—in fact—promoting the unrecognized idea that MANY ancient beads, presumed to be "Roman" actually dated from Islamic times. Until I did this work, there was almost no such thing as an "Islamic Period bead." (Because they were mistakenly said to be "Roman.") If I may be allowed to toot my own horn for a moment, this is some of the significant work I have done as a bead historian, over the past twenty-something years. Below is a photograph I took in 1990, of a bead in a private collection. It is an Egyptian rolled-pad bead that features both diagonal stripes and eye patterns. In Mauritania, this would be considered a "morfia." I also used this photo in my article on Kiffa beads (Ornament, 1996), to demonstrate that these beads inspired the diagonal lines and spots typically seen on many Kiffa pendants and beads. JDA. All rights reserved by Bead Collector Network and its users |
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