I was looking at a very nice strand of ancient glass beads from Mali (so-called "Jenne beads"). when we spotted and discussed a very odd and unexpected bead, shown in the middle of the photograph below.

Looking at this under magnification, I realized it is a muracad (Kiffa) bead, of remarkable smallness and fidelity of pattern. The color scheme is simple, being just blue and white, and the pattern and shape suggest an ancient combed or folded glass bead. This is a tour de force of its type.

Jamey