| Amber | |||||
| Re: Re: Amber -- Carl Dreibelbis | Post Reply | Edit | Forum | Where am I? | |
Mail author07/02/2006, 17:01:57
Carlo,
not much. I am not FULL-ANI aware of the differences between Fulani vs. other amber of that area. I was immedeately reminded of "Moroccan amber" (from the same original source, of course, as yours), though there might be some other pieces mixed in too. Either Morocco mixed into Fulani, or vice versa, if not a third or piece of non-amber is among. Generally itīs all amber, that much I think we can agree to. Also the color - regarding the majority of this single pieces - that typical and desired golden-yellow color qualifies for Fulani. And maybe itīs really all Fulani, since I mostly know FULANI-amber in the context of hair-ornaments, not necklaces or other, if that exists too. Do you know for what this pieces were used originally, or before you got them? Is it a dealer-strung Fulani strand?
But I just remind one little story, what confirms more the FULANI origin.
One day I arrived at the house of my (very Southern) Moroccan friend, while he was just preparing for another visit "South". Mauritania and Mali were 3,4,5 times per year his aim. Several trading items were laying all around his room, things in exchange for items from those two countries. A practical way to deal still. Still oftendone among Muslims of the that region. The advantages are too obvious to lose time with them here and now. I asked him questions like "what do you get for this. What are you hoping to exchange for this. What is this worth in Bamako" Questions of that kind. To make a long and nice evening (with that friend, Mohamed is his name, of course) short in telling, it came out, that all this amber I had bought from him up to that day (I talk about the nineties, Carl. Amber was rather a desaster for me all together, economically seen. Amber is just to expensive to profit from it) had in fact been Malian. My buddy Mohamed - friend and dealer since several years - had never told me, so far. I was really of the naive thinking (up to that point, I repeat)it had been genuine Moroccan amber. Amber, besides coral and silver is so much part of traditional Moroccan jewelry (though the upperclass had always used gold, yes, also in traditional jewelry. I donīt know if you have some general knowledge of traditional Moroccan jewlery, but if so, try to look at some of those gold-pieces, at least in books. That is truely amazing. A difference as big as that between Nourakad and this "sorry-my-kids-brought-this-home-from-Kindergarden" beads from Kiffa) that it had been normal to assume all amber in Morocco was "moroccan". Anyway, both is "Baltic Sea" in the widest sense (lots of this same amber came from Germany and Russia too, of course) and therefore we talk the same amber anyway. But..., yes, there is a but!
In many cases, bigger and raw, natural chunks of amber have been brought (through landroutes)to buyers in Western Africa (I talk the late middle-ages here, for example). And, as always was and always will be, different buyers had different tastes. I was told that big and bigger pieces were sold with preference into what is the Malian area today, while Moroccans, way north of them, prefered more ready-into-bead-made pieces of smaller size.
OK, this will be endless. Little summary, but please verify anyway. I am just one humble source and do not feel confident to tell an ultimate truth (which doesnīt exist anyway).
Both countries have, like and use "Baltic Amber". Bigger pieces, like only partly yours, were favoured in Mali, possibly higher prices could be fetched there - and do not forget their chance to pay in gold-dust. I had to touch and even to smell this strand to say a bit more. The color is great and appreciated in both countries, though not all Moroccan could pay for this desired color. Berbers were often - nearly always - the wearers of amber and not many of them were rich enough (but....again....there are also so many exceptions, that this talk here and now leads finally nowhere. Itīs a longer story and many facets...)to be able to buy this higher sun-yellow golden quality.
not much. I am not FULL-ANI aware of the differences between Fulani vs. other amber of that area. I was immedeately reminded of "Moroccan amber" (from the same original source, of course, as yours), though there might be some other pieces mixed in too. Either Morocco mixed into Fulani, or vice versa, if not a third or piece of non-amber is among. Generally itīs all amber, that much I think we can agree to. Also the color - regarding the majority of this single pieces - that typical and desired golden-yellow color qualifies for Fulani. And maybe itīs really all Fulani, since I mostly know FULANI-amber in the context of hair-ornaments, not necklaces or other, if that exists too. Do you know for what this pieces were used originally, or before you got them? Is it a dealer-strung Fulani strand?
But I just remind one little story, what confirms more the FULANI origin.
One day I arrived at the house of my (very Southern) Moroccan friend, while he was just preparing for another visit "South". Mauritania and Mali were 3,4,5 times per year his aim. Several trading items were laying all around his room, things in exchange for items from those two countries. A practical way to deal still. Still oftendone among Muslims of the that region. The advantages are too obvious to lose time with them here and now. I asked him questions like "what do you get for this. What are you hoping to exchange for this. What is this worth in Bamako" Questions of that kind. To make a long and nice evening (with that friend, Mohamed is his name, of course) short in telling, it came out, that all this amber I had bought from him up to that day (I talk about the nineties, Carl. Amber was rather a desaster for me all together, economically seen. Amber is just to expensive to profit from it) had in fact been Malian. My buddy Mohamed - friend and dealer since several years - had never told me, so far. I was really of the naive thinking (up to that point, I repeat)it had been genuine Moroccan amber. Amber, besides coral and silver is so much part of traditional Moroccan jewelry (though the upperclass had always used gold, yes, also in traditional jewelry. I donīt know if you have some general knowledge of traditional Moroccan jewlery, but if so, try to look at some of those gold-pieces, at least in books. That is truely amazing. A difference as big as that between Nourakad and this "sorry-my-kids-brought-this-home-from-Kindergarden" beads from Kiffa) that it had been normal to assume all amber in Morocco was "moroccan". Anyway, both is "Baltic Sea" in the widest sense (lots of this same amber came from Germany and Russia too, of course) and therefore we talk the same amber anyway. But..., yes, there is a but!
In many cases, bigger and raw, natural chunks of amber have been brought (through landroutes)to buyers in Western Africa (I talk the late middle-ages here, for example). And, as always was and always will be, different buyers had different tastes. I was told that big and bigger pieces were sold with preference into what is the Malian area today, while Moroccans, way north of them, prefered more ready-into-bead-made pieces of smaller size.
OK, this will be endless. Little summary, but please verify anyway. I am just one humble source and do not feel confident to tell an ultimate truth (which doesnīt exist anyway).
Both countries have, like and use "Baltic Amber". Bigger pieces, like only partly yours, were favoured in Mali, possibly higher prices could be fetched there - and do not forget their chance to pay in gold-dust. I had to touch and even to smell this strand to say a bit more. The color is great and appreciated in both countries, though not all Moroccan could pay for this desired color. Berbers were often - nearly always - the wearers of amber and not many of them were rich enough (but....again....there are also so many exceptions, that this talk here and now leads finally nowhere. Itīs a longer story and many facets...)to be able to buy this higher sun-yellow golden quality.
I will try to find this typical Fulani-woman photo we see everywhere. A woman wearing this 10-15 big pieces of golden amber in their hair, often with a little red bead to hold the bigger amber in place. A photo will tell more than words. Tell me if you know what I mean - otherwise I go through this ordeal and find you a photo!
I need a drink,
BOND.
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