1997
Re: One is new copy, one is old goods -- Russ Nobbs Post Reply Edit Forum Where am I?
Posted by: Beadman Mail author
10/11/2006, 14:11:04

Hi Russ,

Chinese stone-beadmakers began to make decorated beads of carnelian in 1997. That is when I was in Taiwan and saw them for the first time, before they had made it to the US. I believe I brought back the first of such beads seen by any Americans.

Every year or so since then, they make new editions of beads. Typically, these combine aspects of Tibetan types (usually the patterns) with Middle Eastern or Central Asian types (the shapes). Decorated carnelians are not really typical of Tibetan beads, with certain exceptions. However, Nepal, bordering as it does on India and Tibet has been a notable source of carnelians (from India). But the Chinese beads, and those you show, do not really look like any particular product nor from a specific tradition. They are a chimera.

Decorated carnelian beads and pseudo-decorated fakes also come out of Pakistan/Afghanistan—so it's not as though one can just draw an easy conclusion. But my guess is your beads are Chinese, regardless of the design.

Jamey



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