Actually, black chevrons are rare, I have never seen black chevrons with 7 layers. So in the 17th century we never, it seems to me, made of black chevrons. Then there are black chevrons like the ones you photographed. But I also have bigger black chevrons found on the African markets. Here is the picture of this chevron with 5 layers.
It measures 30,5mm in length and 21mm in diameter.
You can see other pictures on my site: KIKASBEAD on Etsy.com
The 4 layer chevrons are the most common. 5 layer black chevrons may be considered less common or rare, but in my own experience the 5 layer blue chevrons are less common than the black. There are indeed 7 layer chevrons made between 1490-1650. We usually call black chevrons black, but they are actually saturated purple in color which appears black.
Fun quiz:
How would you rate according to rarity on these colors of 7 layer chevrons (there are more varieties and colors than what is listed)?.
Black 7 layer
Green 7 layer
Blue 7 layer
Teal 7 layer
There are some nine year's of reliable information in these pages, if you look for them.
Here are two posts I composed in April, 2006. JDA.
