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Whte agates - and wound glass imitation
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Posted by: lindabd Post Reply
11/16/2018, 08:44:43

Hello,

I have two images here.

One of them is of a strand of white agate beads that I've understood to be heirloom beads among the Fulani people in Nigeria. They seem quite special to me - particularly the large central bead which is 6.5cm long X 3cm wide.
I know I've seen information about them in this forum, but I've been unable to find any reference. Is it known how old they are? Where they were made?

The other image is of a strand of wound glass beads which seem to be imitating white agate. I found them in two separate baggies at a flea market. Nice that they came together to form an even graduated strand. Any thoughts as to origin?

Thank you for having a look.

IMG_3989_copy.JPG (116.1 KB)  IMG_3635_copy.JPG (121.3 KB)  


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Czech
Re: Whte agates - and wound glass imitation -- lindabd Post Reply Edit Forum Where am I?
Posted by: floorkasp Post Reply
12/03/2018, 02:19:37

I think these white glass beads are most likely Czech.
They made a lot of beads replicating glass. Also, the fact that it is a graduated strand is typical of Czech production.



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Re: Whte agates - and wound glass imitation
Re: Whte agates - and wound glass imitation -- lindabd Post Reply Edit Forum Where am I?
Posted by: JP Post Reply
12/05/2018, 20:29:33

These beads came also molded from Bohemia or Germany, Here are some on display in the museum, they were separated from a strand of white agate that came from the African trade.
Average size: 30 x 17mm
JP

moldedagate_copy.jpg (129.2 KB)  


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Re: White Indian Agate Beads
Re: Whte agates - and wound glass imitation -- lindabd Post Reply Edit Forum Where am I?
Posted by: Beadman Post Reply
12/23/2018, 13:42:10

Hi Linda,

These beads were a staple product from the time African beads began to be brought into the US by the tons, in the early 1970s. Although they were fairly consistently represented as "antique," I am more inclined to suspect these are early 20th C beads; or from the very late 19th C. at the earliest. They were plentiful and not expensive. My impression is that they were more of a glut on the market. And rather few collectors have made them "desirable," to instigate a fad. In my opinion, the beads themselves are rather pedestrian. There is almost no attempt to cut the stone to create an artistic appearance. I would say they were cranked-out.

I do not associate them with Nigeria. But it is possible they were readily available across West Africa, and that many societies may have had them. (Again suggesting they are fairly recent.) White is a desirable color for juju beads; and Nigeria is one place where juju has remained somewhat popular. I couldn't rule-out Nigeria. But, from the period I am thinking of, not a lot of stone beads from Nigeria were available. (The exceptions would have been beads actually made in Nigeria—such as the jasper Lantana beads.)

Be well. Jamey



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