Dramatically changing my opinion...
Re: Jatim or Majapahit Beads, please advise.. -- Kajornboonsook Post Reply Edit Forum Where am I?
Posted by: Frederick II Mail author
09/13/2014, 13:55:40

Sawasdee Khap Paul Kajornboonsook,

Before you enlarged the photos,
I was a bit hasty in reaching my conclusions.
After all, I am not intending to play the role of an expert.
I am learning just like everyone else.

But, the more I look at the improved images:,
the more suspicious I am of the beads with color.

The beads with the severely abraded apertures seemed more convincing.
And, it may be possible to achieve this type of devitrification by
leaving a bead in an acid bath for a long time, perhaps a week.

I feel uncomfortable beginning with the blue one.
And, especially the black and orange...and the green and orange one.
The green and orange cylindrical bead is Islamic Era in style.

By making convincing but confusing reproductions, Javanese copyists
have successfully killed their market for antique Jatim beads.
Now you can find bargains in ancient Jatim beads
-if only you could sort them out.

Plain beads are probably not fakes.
So, ugly beads may contain clues!

Do you recall the lyrics from the song:
"If you want to be happy for the rest of your life,
never make a pretty woman your wife.
So from my personal point of view,
get an ugly girl to marry you."
Seriously I'm kidding.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQTveD0xCsQ

Just Fred



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