Malian Strand of Beads

A single long cobalt tube lies at the front of the strand, like the one guest who dressed formally.

This strand of beads comes from Mali, West Africa, and dates to the early 1st century, in excavated glass, around 2000 years old. Excavated glass beads from Mali are generally thought to have arrived by trade, and strands are often assembled from finds of different sizes and shapes. Here small discs in teal, green, blue and rust are mixed freely. A long lavender-blue tube bead sits at the center, and a few teardrop pendants in pale blue hang off the line nearby. The glass is weathered and matte. It is 14 inches long.

Mismatched by design, and better for it.