Malian Strand of Beads

White beads crowd one end while navy and rust beads punctuate the other.

This strand of beads is from Mali, West Africa. It is excavated glass. Excavated glass beads often show weathering, with a dull or pearly crust where the glass has reacted with the soil. A long mixed strand opens with small chalky white beads, then a long dark teal tube beside a short red one. Lower down come navy blue, orange-red and brown beads of varying sizes. Surfaces are matte and aged.

A string with opinions about colour.