A Necklace of Ancient Persian Faience, Ancient Nila Beads from West Africa, and Yemenite Silver Beads
This 28" necklace is made of Ancient Persian Faience, Ancient Nila Beads from West Africa, and Yemenite Silver Beads.
There is some uncertainty about the nature of the faience beads. Purchased at an auction as ancient Egyptian faience, nevertheless, these beads appear to be of later production. According to expert opinion, they likely come from Persia and date somewhere between the second and 6th centuries AD. The beads show they age - on many beads the glaze is almost gone, but they retain the beauty only enhanced by age and wear. The faience beads are light blue, some with beige and purple tint, with the remnants of blue glaze visible on some beads more than on others.
The small blue spacer beads are also ancient. They come from Mali excavations in the area of D'Jenne and are frequently referred to as Nila, or D'jenne beads, and are believed to date to the Islamic Perion, 8-12 c. AD. The larger silver filigree beads are vintage, they come from Yemenite silversmiths and display an intricate design. The two smaller silver beads near the clasp are Moroccan. Flat disk silver spacers are modern, they come from Bali. This necklace truly spans the history of the last two millennia.
The largest faience bead is 23x20mm, the smallest 17x15mm; Yemenite silver beads are 24x18mm, and the smaller silver beads from Morocco are 10x12mm.
This necklace is completed with a sterling silver clasp.
