Lovely post. Another one! Since I am not under suspicion to "k*ss anybody's *ss", I feel free to say so!

And I do say so, because your concern is one I wholeheartedly share from day one of being a collector - in 1991.

Take "Muraqad" - the strands one can buy have nothing in common with authentic strands (that are worn too, aside from indivual hair-ornament pieces).

I have no clue how things have been during the very early days of the trade (late 60's - early 70's...?!), but nowadays - talking Venetian beads - I assume, roaming African dealers find nothing but single specimen. That excuses their cleaning, sorting and stringing practises, though you cannot forget that 90+% of them are in it for the money, not the socio-cultural aspects.

Same is valid for authentic jewellery from the Maghreb, Morocco for the most part. It is extremely difficult to find a true piece. Chinese customers - I was told just recently - buy such necklaces for no other reason but to "harvest" the amber and coral that comes with it. Sadness is the wrong word to describe such behaviour.

Money rules - everything and everywhere, with no light at the end of the tunnel!