| Original Message: Re: Re: Decorated Phenolic Plastic Fake-Amber Beads |
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I was near the end of a more explanatory reply when my computer updated a program and closed on me without warning and I lost my text.
Given the development of plastic in general, of which I have no knowledge, it would appear that the Germans would not have brought the beads into East Africa since they lost it with WWI. The borders of those countries have changed since the following British and Belgian occupation then the UN mandate. You have answered that question. Thanks.
I discovered before first posting that the beads were not incised nor burned in. The decoration is a surface application with hints of a metallic with the red in some places where the remnants of decoration can be seen. Aside from 3 being matching cylindrical and a different shade and the others ovoid, there are internal streaks in the cylinders and 2 of the ovoids which have remnants of a probable different surface decoration. Then there is another 2 with what appears to be another surface decoration and yet another two. There is dimpling at the holes in some of the ovoids but not others. The last group of 6 with what appears to be another pattern decoration show both dimpling and non dimpling and some unevenly cut ends.
I haven't done specific gravity testing since my lapidary days and am obviously not familiar with amber since I never worked with it or used it.
So we have 5 groups in 15 beads! It would appear that 4 groups totaling 12 could be from a multi-patterned set which was well worn as jewelry. I have no idea as to the other three.
Now that we have somewhat determined the chemistry and age, the question remains as to what did they originally looked like? If they are indeed beads made in Europe and traded and worn in Africa, who wore them (as suggested by looking at old National Geographic magazines All rights reserved by Bead Collector Network and its users |
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