A digital archive showcasing the extensive collection of jewellery and adornment images shared on the former Ethnic Jewels Ning site over the years. These images have significantly enriched discussions on cultural adornment and its global dispersion.

A recent find

Fake amber and silver Muria, most likely from Harar, Ethiopia. Some of the beads have holes in them from long years of wear, others are in good shape. Still perfectly wearable and relatively light weight as the silver beads are hollow.
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Comments

  • Dear Betty, this looks lovely. I really like the color of the beads - they look great with the silver beads. With kind regards. Peter

  • Lovely old beads Betty  and it looks like good silver, taking the glow of it in consideration. They certainly are old, and I suspect a necklace once worn in the town of Harrar, because  of the size of the beads and its lovely decoration. More refined than the country side Murias. Traditionally there would have been 11 beads and 2 endings in silver.  The immitation amber are not Ethiopian. Very warm and so wearable in our todays outfits. I wear mine so often. Gr. Ingrid

  • The soft patina on the silver is lovely next to the amber beads. Great find!

  • Thank you Ingrid, Toya and Peter!

    The amber-coloured beads (replacing 5 silver beads) are, of course, no real amber but a kind of plastic. Jjudging from the wear on the holes, however, they must have been used with the silver beads for a long time. Everything is strung on an Ethiopian handmade leather string knotted on metal chains.

    Thank you for your evaluation, Ingrid! I also think the silver is high-quality. I love the unusual pattern on two of the silver beads. It's a great piece to wear. I can already tell that it'll become a favourite of mine this winter.

  • Betty, In the old jewellery, everything was strung on cotton, wool or sisal. not that it is of importance to this necklace. the silver beads are beautiful. Gr. Ingrid.

  • love the glow of the silver beads, just wonderful!

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