Re: Some beads from Afghanistan..questions
Re: Some beads from Afghanistan..questions -- chibae Post Reply Edit Forum Where am I?
Posted by: beadiste Mail author
08/08/2012, 15:29:27

Can you tell which beads are stone, and which might be glass or plastic?

They're all "hand made," in the sense that someone had to shape them and paint or inlay the designs on the ones that have patterns.

Some of the designs appear to be Indian or Chinese products made from soapstone or agate to imitate old dzi beads and etched carnelians, and the bright blue bead might be dyed to imitate lapis. I don't think it's actually lapis lazuli, despite its being bought in Afghanistan. The brick-shaped bead in your second photo looks like those manufactured in India and sold in colorful mixed strands at a very economical price. They're commonly called "beggar beads" - a photo is attached. I can't tell if the spindle-shaped bead in the second photo is stone or glass, but it's a nice bead. Is the black bead with the white circle decorations soapstone? Glass? Something else?

The experts on this list may think differently, but I suspect none of your beads are so ancient that they need to be protectively stored or insured.

Attractive beads - do you plan to string them up and wear them, perhaps as a bracelet?

beggar_beads.jpg (7357 bytes)  


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