Necklace of Ancient Terracotta Beads

11th century & mid. 20th century, Mali, West Africa.

Gorgeous long necklace with ancient terracotta beads, seed beads, aged coiled brass and copper beads, coconut heishi-beads, various bone beads and modern engraved ceramic beads. The small-sized, tubular and ribbed terracotta beads are probably from Mali and date from roughly c. 1000 to 1200AD. Clay bead production within Africa, is a craft several thousand years old as proven with the finding of whorl beads in West Africa. Other sources indicate that these terracotta beads are from Egypt and are from the Coptic culture which would make them much earlier. Probably used as rosaries by the Coptic Church in the Monastries of the Western Desert and Sinai. As a rule, Mali clay beads are produced through a gradual baking process in the heat of the sun, although it is not clear if they are made using a mold, or cane production process. These beads are probably mould-made and were then cut into individual beads from the resulting rods. The beads are unique and vary from individual circular beads to tubes of up to six discoid beads. 

Fascinating necklace are in good condition. The cotton string is relatively new. Beads have beautiful old patina with some chips & digs. Traces of handling and wearing over many years. Strand c. 98,0cm long with hundreds of beads (the individual bead size varies from 0,2cm to 0,7cm).

Provenance: Danish private collection