Javanese Jatim Bead Strand

Mostly mustard, with a few green beads keeping their own counsel.

This Jatim bead strand comes from the Javanese peoples of East Java, Indonesia, and dates to the 8th / 9th century. It is glass. Opaque single-color beads like these were made and traded widely across early island Southeast Asia, and the East Java examples are generally admired for their soft, earthy colors. The beads graduate toward a large center, mostly yellow ochre and pale olive, with darker teal ovals near the top and one rough, sandy orange bead along the side. Up close, the surfaces are dusty and finely pocked. It is 11 inches long.

The color scheme has held for a very long time.