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Help with ID - imitation Venetians, etc - Kiffa? Mauritania?
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Posted by: Mel H Post Reply
11/02/2012, 13:19:27

Found in a thrift store, so I have no background info. I really like the black, imitation "Venetian" beads, they even used a speckled, multi-colored glass slurry to give the banding on the black beads the look of aventurine without any sparkles. The translucent blue glass beads have the color of bottle glass, which makes me wonder if these could be Kiffa? There are also various Czech beads and some turquoise stone beads in the mix. Can I get some opinions on origin and age? Looking forward to hearing your opinions and thanks in advance for your help.

-Melissa

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More photos - Re: Help with ID - imitation Venetians, etc - Kiffa? Mauritania?
Re: Help with ID - imitation Venetians, etc - Kiffa? Mauritania? -- Mel H Post Reply Edit Forum Where am I?
Posted by: Mel H Post Reply
11/02/2012, 13:20:45

here are some more photos

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More photos #2 - Re: Help with ID - imitation Venetians, etc - Kiffa? Mauritania?
Re: Help with ID - imitation Venetians, etc - Kiffa? Mauritania? -- Mel H Post Reply Edit Forum Where am I?
Posted by: Mel H Post Reply
11/02/2012, 13:23:12

last set

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Hi Mel
Re: Help with ID - imitation Venetians, etc - Kiffa? Mauritania? -- Mel H Post Reply Edit Forum Where am I?
Posted by: Carl Dreibelbis Post Reply
11/02/2012, 14:28:11

This is an interesting assemblage. It is a combination of Ghanaian powder glass beads (1990s-2000s), some older Czech molded beads, some Ethiopian metal beads from Prayer Bead strands and a couple of newer made Coptic Crosses (also from Ethiopia). I see no signs of Kiffa beads, old or new.

I don't think this is a "tribal" piece but something put together.



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Re: Hi Mel
Re: Hi Mel -- Carl Dreibelbis Post Reply Edit Forum Where am I?
Posted by: Mel H Post Reply
11/02/2012, 14:57:25

Thanks Carl, I love it none the less :) So the black beads are Ghana powder glass? I am having a hard time wrapping my head around the difference between Kiffa and powder glass. Are the added colors on Kiffa more a part of the bead than the Ghana beads on which the colors are added to the surface (I remember someone telling me about "writing method" when I first came on the forum). Thanks again Carl, appreciate you taking the time to educate me.

Mel



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Re: Re: Hi Mel
Re: Re: Hi Mel -- Mel H Post Reply Edit Forum Where am I?
Posted by: Stefany Post Reply
11/03/2012, 00:39:40

(i'd say that Kiffa beads are Mauritanian powder glass beads carefully formed around a core).
the decoration on the surface of your Ghanaian powder glass beads may be something more like paint or nail lacquer or so-called "enamel" paint such as used by model makers. you might test that by scraping on an inconspicuous spot. it could have been added at any other moment before the necklace was assembled.
i know there are creative projects in Ethiopia and many other parts of East Africa making jewellery in order to help women get out of poverty, and it includes adapting traditional components and making beads...



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Thanks Stefany
Re: Re: Re: Hi Mel -- Stefany Post Reply Edit Forum Where am I?
Posted by: Mel H Post Reply
11/03/2012, 11:08:40

That helps a lot, thanks so much! I like the thought that it could have been African made, it really doesn't look like something an American would do, to my eye anyway. I'm going to go back through the archives and try to educate myself some more. Appreciate your time.

Melissa



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