Ancient Roman or Islamic Beads from the African Trade, Set of 2
SKU: AFE-1413
Sale price
$75.00
Shipping calculated at checkout
Only 1 in stock
Description
- These beads are priced and sold by the set of 2
- Two Roman, or Islamic beads similar to those found on strands of trade beads in the 1960s and early 1970s.
- Oval 20mm long by 14 at widest point.
- These are the most interesting and of the ancient beads I've found on early trade bead strands. The cylinder with a very large hole, trailed and feathered design looks almost Egyptian.
- The oval is very mysterious. I can't even be sure whether it's stone, clay, faience, glass or some combo of these. I wish I knew a local expert I could consult with.
- Roman glass dates from 1st to 5th century AD, while Islamic glass is from 7th to 15th century AD, at which time the Venetians began dominating the bead trade.
- Rome ruled the coast of North Africa from Egypt to the Atlantic ocean from about 150 BC until about 500 AD so it's not surprising that a few Roman beads would be mixed into the early strands of Venetian trade beads, the first of which came to the US from Morocco in the 1960s.
- Not long after the Romans decamped from northern Africa, Islam began streaming across the Sahara with traders and warriors who also carried the faith, and beads.