these were the find of a lifetime bought in May of 2006. Old Bodom, Akoso and other African powder glass beads.....oh, and one big honkin' Venetian.

Very cool assortment. Still thrilled to have them.

Need a little more light for these boys!

Jasper Aloysius

Joyce, just beautiful!
Such a difficult choice, hmmmm........
For 2006 it has to be these old and older sets of beads, especially the older set!

I love these wonderful "scores" from 2006. Please, I'd love to "see" from more people - what are your favorites from the past year?

Happy New Year!

I found Kiffa so tiny that six beads can fit on a straight pin!!!!!! I'm intrigued how the woman who made these beads was so skilled, she could paint a design on such tiny beads!!!! These beads came from the personal collection of old auntie Maimouna from Mauritania. They have found a new home with me on Dec. 30th, 2006! Just in time to qualify to be my most intriguing purchase of 2006!!!!! Do I get to show more most intriguing finds of 2006 or is it limited to just one choice????? I have so many fantstic finds!

Christine, those must be the world's tiniest Kiffa, destined for a special display in your collection. Please show more when you have a chance.

Joyce, you know me! I'm dying to show my treasures!!! I'm planning a big display of Kiffa, featuring all Kiffa that was ever made to my knowledge! In the display, I will have the largest down to the tiniest!!!

If you have more "intriguing purchases of 2006" you have my permission to post them!

Hi Jadeterrace,

This is a kind of pretty bead we don't see so often on BCN. Can you tell us some more(material, size and origin) about it?

Thanks,
Hendrik

This is a Japanese ojime, used as a slide to hold together Inro case sections threaded on a cord running through extreme ends of each case section.

This one I believe is bone, possibly early 18th century.

In Japan wealthy persons devoted much attention to assembling philosophically and spiritually appropriate combinations of decorated Inro, ojime and netsuke (the toggle at the end of the cord, used to secure the case on a belt or sash). The combinations can have extremely subtle or esoteric meaning. The Inros tended to have the shortest life integrity, so often netsukes and ojime became separated from the assembly and many are now sold separately. In addition when an Inro changed hands, the new owner often wished to change the combination according to his own taste and wherewithal.

Considerable artistic skill and other skills were directed to making the inro, ojime and netsuke.

Ojime may be made of stone, bone, ivory, wood, copal or amber, or a range and/or combination of metals available to the Japanese artisan. They may be carved, lacquered , inlaid, etc.

The perforations of many ojime are lined with a metal sleeve, held in place by the sort of decorative collar shown in my example. This was meant to minimize abrasion of the cord by the perforation edge.

This one varies in diameter a little, given the varying depth of carving. Its size can be estimated by the millimeter scale shown with the picture of the perforation.

Regards,
Jadeterrace

These are the beads that I enjoyed a lot in 2006.(It was fun to find out more about their background.) They are from the Avars from the south of Hungary from late 6th to 8th century. Right bead is 14x14mm.
I love to see your favourite ones too, nice idea Joyce!
Hendrik

One: a very unusual group of three decorated carnelian beads found in the Chackna-soo mountains of Afghanistan (probably mis-spelled). I have not shown these before because I have not been able to research them yet.

Two: an incredible strand of Pyu culture decorated beads, from Thailand, circa 2nd to 9th century AD.

Three: A high karat gold marriage pendant (sort of bead-like), from Indonesia, circa 19th to 20th century.

Happy New year to all,

Jan Skipper
mosquitobay

I posted the wrong marriage pendant, that one is from India, circa 20th century, not Indonesia.

Here is the one from Indonesia:

Also one more very large Islamic era bead:

... for finding the "funky cousin look-a-like"??? This one is still on it's way, probably slugging it's way through a snow drift in Denver, so I have taken the liberty of using Eliza's (Africa Direct) stock photo to share in this post. It has obviously seen it's fair share of elements, but it has also gained a certain charm.

Please add to this thread if you are so inclined!

I've been out of action, in the hospital for a while, but couldn't pass on this post. Didn't buy that many beads in 2006, but this has to be my favorite-a rolled-pad mosaic bead, probably from the Alexandria area and dating to around 100AD. Thank you Gabriel. Happy New Year everyone! Steve

Thanks Steve, lovely bead. I hope you're are feeling lots better.

- where you have been, and pleased to see you back. Hope you are fully recovered. I am getting to recognise and enjoy many of the regular posters here, and I enjoy the pictures so much.

It is so generous how you all share your expertise and enthusiasms.

Lovely bead too!

Here are a few that made my year, Kiffa (Blue triangle with Crescent moon and star), increasing the Kiffa collection at last years Tucson show by about 300 beads, adding some honker German Marble beads to the strand, and getting a killer Morphia through our friend Bassem!!!!
Thanks all for a wonderful year, thank you for the wonderful images and the great insight from all the contributors....... I hope to be back soon!!!!!!
Thomas

Whew! The pictures of these kiffas and morfias knocked me off my feet!!! Really where else can one see beads like this! Thomas, your the man/king of kiffa!!! Thank you and hurry back!!!

sings? No, shows her beads from 2006. here are some kiffa necklaces,some Morfia

More shots of morfia and morfia-like beads

Some islamic type beads.

after showing these beads! some more islamic and like! Waiting for Jamey, Rachel, Gabriel, Evelyn, Dogbone crazy (Thomas) Anne Bauer etc to show their favorites of 2006!!!!!!!!

This bead selection is absolutely cream of the crop.

I don't know that these are my most special from 2006 - but they sure were fun to welcome into the hoard.

Cody received a very special gift from an extraordinarily generous person just before the end of the year - hopefully he will be ready to post his prized treasures, and his thanks, this weekend.

- and LOVE this site.

Husband bought me new camera for Christmas (after last one blew up in China) so hope to contribute more in modest way in 2007.

In the meantime I thank you and David and all contributors who have so generously shared your knowledge and enthusiasm.

most treasured find for 2006 - beautiful pemma raka

This is my favourite bead of 2006.
I love it because it was an unexpected and much appreciated gift.

"Henry"
Also from Ancient Beads and Artifacts.

Although there are actual faces on beads from this period (roughly ca. 500 BCE), the present bead is just an eye bead. The raised bosses are advantitious decoration, not facial features. Of course, if one were looking for a face, it's easy to see one—or many.

If there were a face, this would be a "head bead" (because the name "face bead" is reserved for millefiori beads, typical of the Roman Period and later).

Jamey

Hi Jamey:
Thanks for your input. Note that I didn't call it a "face bead," I just called it "Henry." I know it's an eye bead, but it has the appearance of multiple faces. And it looks like it has a personality - something a little more than just fending off the evil eye. Bassem called it "a Phoenician eye bead with faces created by the eyes," or words to that effect. I don't think any of us was trying to classify it as a face bead. But I see expressions in this bead that are more interesting than those in many a Roman face bead I've seen. Of course, you've seen a lot more Roman face beads than I have...
Anyway, I've admired your writing for a long time and I enjoyed meeting you (albeit briefly) in Tucson last year (with Bassem at the Rodeway). So I'm just thrilled that you had something to say about a bead I posted - and that it wasn't to say that the bead is a modern replica!
Rachel

No, no... of course not a face in the sense of "face bead"!
But (if you feel like peeping over the top of a oh-so-serious, sometimes sight-obstructing mound of knowledge, thus allowing a hint of lecherous fantasy) you may see there two wide open blue eyes, a childly nose and -- instead of hole -- a gaping mouth: the full thing as alive as a Walt Disney character!
Does it ring frivolous? Perhaps there is more than scholastics in life, even whith "Beads" as subject matter.

2006 wasn't such a great year for me in many respects, but it was a great bead year.
Islamics from a large strand and Warring States beads that I bought in Tucson.

Your beads are what dreams are made of! Some people are fortunate enough and hav e the means to take bead collecting to the highest level!!!! thank you and thank all of you that showed your beads!! this is a most fascinating thread!

I'm afraid I spent beyond my means in 2006! That's why I wasn't able to buy one of those magnificent chevrons you have/had. But I don't regret a penny of it. And I'd do it again...
It's always great to hear from you, and I look forward to seeing you in New York when you return.

A gift from my sweetheart.

Hello All;

This Egyptian mummy mask reproduction made from ancient faience beads is my favorite beads from 2006

Enjoy
Sincerely
Thomas Mercer
Dog Bone Crazy

We have really missed you!! I knew that you would post something really interesting! Thank you so much! Don't stay away!!!!(smile0