Hi McBead,

I'd like to see a larger photo, but to me these look like new reproduction beads from Java. I have a similar strand, though of all beads of one type.

They copy Islamic Period combed beads. However, it would be very unusual to see a whole group of ancient beads that would be so similar in style, color scheme, and condition. While I see some variation in combing pattern, The beads are all more alike than different. I would expect a group of ancient beads to vary more in terms of art, size and shape, and especially condition.

Cheers, Jamey

Thanks Jamey, we saw in on photo only to . we were not quit sure because it was bought in Mauretania by a friend of ours.
Till next time, thanks McBead/Beadbrothers

Hi again,

Mauritania is a surprise! However, this would not be the first time that Indonesian beads have been found in West Africa. This will become more and more common as the Global Marketplace grows.

Jamey

The 'global market place ' was very apparent on the last trip to Morocco, The souks were crammed with chinese glass 'Sherpa coral', shell with turqoise coloured infills, Nagaland tribal stuff, Chinese beads, Very little of what the tourists were offered was even a shade of Berber traditional wares.
A lot less Indian glass beads were on offer, although the chinese chevrons hadn't as yet landed.( I took a few to give to friends there. I pointed out the manufacture, I think that once these arrive wholesale in Morocco there will be many people misssold them following the 'magic' Moroccan ageing wand!)
I asked a guy in his 'antique' shop, why all of the chinese stuff? He said it costs less to get this than the Berber stuff, and the tourists don't know the difference. There is also a lot of new production Tuareg stuff, apparently there is a co-operative churning out copies for the tourist market in the Keela Mgouna region.

So the essence of those wonderful Amazigh and Chleuh pieces becomes a little more diluted and less available. A shame, but I guess thats trade and beads as it has always been to some extent.

Warm wishes
Sarah

Have added a pic of something which I found on this trip which is the real deal!!

On the subject of Chinese knockoffs being sold to tourists. The NYPD just did a massive raid in New York City and confiscated 1 million dollars worth of couterfeit goods (designer purses, watches, etc). They closed a lot of stores in Chinatown. The tourists are angry because "now they have to go buy the real stuff and it will cost more money." Makes you wonder if the tourists in Mauritania know they are buying knockoffs and don't care.

Adele

If I well remember such beads(a few strands)arrived on the Mauritanian market in 2006, together with some other Indonesian fakes. It is not too difficult to recognize them.

Gabriel

The Chinese stuff is being sold as Moroccan antiques in many cases.

Tourists who don't venture beyond a 5* tour and their hotel are taken often with a large round sign on a stick to follow to set shops in the souk, always the bigger and most comfortable ones. The tea here is on tap, rather than a boy going to get it from a tea shop. The shops they visit sell their wares at top prices. The traders in the souk, The ones I know well, refer to the sign as a dollars/yen/euros to take advert. The guide from the hotel will remember everything sold to 'His' tourists during the tour. He returns later to the shops to clain 75% of the takings. This means that a tourist on a trip such as this will always pay at least 75% more than the price which a stall holder is prepared to accept for an item!

I have seen a couple pay £35 for a pair of slippers which i was in the process of buying for £3.

If you want to shop in Morocco go solo!
If you are a little concerned about getting lost in the souks, just wander till you are ready to leave and then ask which way is the exit, asking kids is usually the best, they love the interaction, and will be overjoyed if you give a small gift to them as a thank you.
I don't give money, usually a pen, a small torch or something simular is great. I gave away glow in the dark Teenage Cancer Trust charity pendants last time...... road safety, and wow thats magic!!!all in one necklace!!
buyer beware...even on holiday i guess!!
S x

Hello McBead/Beadbrothers,

I have a similar strand. It was sold to me as a strand of Indonesian feathers.

Enjoy the day,
Perlengarten

Hi Perlengarten

Your beads look more from India to me.

The shiny surface and the combing look more what is made the last 10 years in India.

See pict

Can you send a picture from an individual bead for a better look?

Hans

Those last beads are indeed just as shiny as these beads I recently saw on the site of a wholesale seller or Indian beads in Belgium.

The ones in the first post by mcbead look to be Indonesian. I think I have some still stashed away that haven't made it out to sell. (Luann: I'll try to aim some to the show you visit.)From the picture they look matte and a little grainy - typical of current Javanese production, commonly sold in Bali.

The Indian ones are usually sold shiny though they could be done matte as well. I have a lot of the Indian ones in my on line store.

Here's a link to some different B&W ones happen to be matte. These remind me of a variety of B&W licorice candy.

Hi Hans, yes I can post a better picture this week-end. Mine do not have a shiny glaze, however. They have a matt finish.

Your is very pretty!

Perlengarten

Hello Hans,

I can't readily find the strand of Indonesians I showed earlier. I'll look again tonight.

Meanwhile, for compare and contrast, here is a fine strand of Venetian Zebras from the African trade and a few new Indonesian copies.

The Venetians are matt finished and a little dirty. The Indonesians are shiny, new production.

Perlengarten

Here's a segment of a strand that were unidentified when sold to me by an African trade dealer. Hence it was a little misleading, because the dealer specializes in African items.

But now that I look at the other pictures, I wonder if these are Indonesian. Notice the blue spots and blue tint to some of the white striping?

Is the striping really glass fused onto/into the core, or a 'decoration' as some have described it? --if I understand this correctly...

Perlengarten

I don't think so, in my opinion these are wound venetian beads.
The blue tint in the white striping is often seen, while the black glass is not black at all, but a dark blue.
Can you show a picture from the hole side of the beads?
A lot of Indonesian beads are pinched and then sometimes grinded at the ends. hans

Hello PG,

Your beads may be Venetian, but could come from India as well. One might have to see them IRL (in real life) to make a distinction. When glass is trailed, glass in the form of stings ("trials") of the same or another color is applied and fused to the base. This is "decoration"—to be sure.

However, let's not confuse the term with that of a different context—the context of agate beadmaking, where "decoration" is short for "chemical decoration" and refers to the process of applying a solution that is fused into the bead (or object) and becomes a permanent part of that stone, creating a (usually) white line.

Jamey