First off, these two names are spelled various ways. However, since the former is not Latin nor Greek, "morphia" is nonsensical. (Morpheus was the ancient god of sleep—and "morphia" [from his name] is another name for morphine, a highly addictive narcotic that can cause lack-of-consciousness ["sleep"]. Let's not go there.) The second name is sometimes rendered "dar fakron" and various spellings that attempt some sort of phonetic rendering. Since it's entirely foreign, and not to be mistaken for a Greek root word, I don't care how you spell it.

These names first came to the attention of bead collectors in the mid-1980s, thanks to the writings of Marie-Francoise Delaroziere. Ms Delaroziere, originally from France, spent her childhood in Morocco, and later worked for the French Cultural Center in Nouakchott, Mauritania, as their Librarian and then Director. In this town, she was a founder of the National Museum and Library. Her credentials as a scholar are impeccable. Clearly she is a long-time resident of the country, and is intimately familiar with its culture.

In 1985, in the February issue of Ornament magazine (8:3), a translation of an article written by Ms Delaroziere is presented, called "Mauritanian Beads." It largely deals with Kiffa (or muracad) beads—but also discusses the ancient beads that inspired local beadmaking (in terms of colors and patterns). This article was followed by a book called Les Perles de Mauritanie, wherein she enlarged the perspective of all these beads.

Ms Delaroziere makes it abundantly clear that the name "morfia" refers to beads that have diagonal stripes (these deriving from twisted striped canes that form the exterior, and form a specific sort of rolled-pad bead—as I would call it). Further, she demonstrates that certain Islamic Period millefiori beads are locally called "Dhar Verkrun." There are beads that feature BOTH sorts of decoration. In popular collecting, the striped beads that include millefiori eyes are ALSO called "morfia." However, those that are solely millefiori (eyes or spots) are NOT called "morfia—following the Mauritanian example.

I think it is possible that some collectors call ALL of these beads (maybe even including beads not discussed here) "morfia." (I can recall when I was not very precise about the use of this name, myself.) And, in the intervening twenty-two years, perhaps even some Mauritanians have become lax about the precision of names. I leave it to people who go there to find out and report back. But, if anyone asks, it would be significant to ask what the name "Dhar Verkrun" (however spelled) refers to, too.

Below is an except from Ms Delaroziere's Ornament article, showing an early quote from the text (where the names are first discussed), and two Figures with their captions. (I have reversed Figure 4, as it was presented unsidedown.)

More shortly.

Jamey