| Original Message: Re: Mauritania? |
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The 'global market place ' was very apparent on the last trip to Morocco, The souks were crammed with chinese glass 'Sherpa coral', shell with turqoise coloured infills, Nagaland tribal stuff, Chinese beads, Very little of what the tourists were offered was even a shade of Berber traditional wares.
A lot less Indian glass beads were on offer, although the chinese chevrons hadn't as yet landed.( I took a few to give to friends there. I pointed out the manufacture, I think that once these arrive wholesale in Morocco there will be many people misssold them following the 'magic' Moroccan ageing wand!)
I asked a guy in his 'antique' shop, why all of the chinese stuff? He said it costs less to get this than the Berber stuff, and the tourists don't know the difference. There is also a lot of new production Tuareg stuff, apparently there is a co-operative churning out copies for the tourist market in the Keela Mgouna region. So the essence of those wonderful Amazigh and Chleuh pieces becomes a little more diluted and less available. A shame, but I guess thats trade and beads as it has always been to some extent. Warm wishes Sarah Have added a pic of something which I found on this trip which is the real deal!!
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