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.
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here with the open coptic Icon, which is painted in the typical Ethiopian style:
Eva, I have never seen this before, they are copied from the eye-beads (the ones you have bought earlier).with an addition to get a flower image. I cannot place them. As a rosary there should be some beads placed in between of a different shape. I am afraid I place it more as patience beads. Do you feel any hand grease smoothness or so?
Whatever they are it has been carefully made.
@Ingrid, I do not know, the beads are certainly imitating the eye beads, they are smooth, but I would not call them greasy. The seller was herself in Ethiopia and bought them along with a lot of other stuff. I have known her since years and she would not cheat, only that perhaps the Information given was wrong - this is possible. They are relatively loose on the thread and can be moved with about 1 cm space. The colours are not fresh (it has been used, one can see this). What are Patience beads?
Patience beads are what the moslem people use, like so many Turkish,Greek etc. So also in Ethiopia.
They can be of all kind of materials. In the olden days many were of small resin beads. (copal)
Lovely and unique! The beads go well with your icon, actually, as the dots are reflected in the smaller dots in the painting. Well-chosen background, as usually. Like Ingrid, this is the first time I see such beads. It's great to learn something new every day. Patience beads is a term I have heard for Muslim prayer beads, but Ingrid will tell us... BTW, habe you asked the seller where in Ethiopia she bought them?
Thanks for your comments. I just saw the Pictures has been featured, thank you Sarah.
No, I have not asked her (yet) where in Ethiopia she bought them. She said they were coptic prayer beads....... Of course I can ask her, but at the Moment she is quite busy, so it may take a while. Possible that they are Muslim prayer beads - really I do not know. it is all possible. She is not an Ethiopia specialist, but travelled before mainly to West Africa .
These beads are very nice and joyful. Great pic as usual, Eva!
@José - thanks a lot.
If I know more about them, I will come back to this, but it might take some time.