Strand of Beads

Each bead wears a smooth belt around a coat of tiny raised dots, like a seed that dressed for dinner.

This strand of beads comes from Africa, in metal. Across West Africa, cast and wire-decorated metal beads have long been made by the lost-wax method, in which a wax model is built up, encased in clay and replaced by molten metal. These are plump, rounded beads with a golden brass tone, each covered in fine granulation and crossed by a plain raised band. A few beads break rank with an all-over pebbled surface. Darker patina gathers in the recesses, and a larger round bead sits near the end of the strand.

Thirty-odd beads, one dress code, and a couple of independent thinkers.