Niger River Blue & Earth Choker

$2990.00

A mixed strand of deep blue, burgundy and earthy ancient beads.

Ancient glass, shell and stone beads; vintage Japanese pearls; sterling silver findings (clasp and spacers).

Found along the Niger River region of Mali, West Africa, where large quantities of these beads have been recovered from riverbank sites and buried clay pots. Circa 1200–1600 A.D. Bead researcher Robert K. Liu notes in Ornament Magazine that these beads originated in the Middle East between the seventh and twelfth centuries, and spread with the expansion of Islam into North Africa and beyond. They flowed into Sub-Saharan Africa, where they were valued for centuries in the ancient Malian kingdoms as a symbol of status. Strand length 22–24 inches (56–61 cm). Individual beads range 3–7mm, with occasional larger outliers. Wear commensurate with age — some chips, cracks, and broken beads, as witness to centuries of use.

Let it rest against linen or silk, where its muted tones can breathe.