Malian Strand of Beads

Even grey-green grains in a tall loop, with teal accents low on one side.

This strand of beads is from Mali, West Africa. It is excavated glass. Glass beads were traded over long distances and turn up at sites across Africa and Asia. Very small beads in soft slate green and grey, closely matched in size, with a dry, weathered surface. A few teal beads appear lower right. The strand hangs in a fairly regular oval with loose ends at the top.

Calm, uniform and politely understated throughout.