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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For Toya, Eva, Ait and the other Muria-Lovers: Toya's Muria has inspired me to dig out four single Muria beads. They are heavy and apprear to be filled with a clay-like substance (definitely no wood!). Two of them are especially interesting because they have been very skillfully repaired.
beautiful! I did not know that you also have single Muria beads (apart from the necklace). They have a wonderful design, and the filling (clay) was mentioned by Ingrid earlier, very interesting. Love their decorations!
Thank you Betty, i like them a lot, aspecialy the ones restaured, for sure they had holes because of the wearing and the nice smith added a piece of silver
Beautiful wear!
the beads of a Muria necklace are filled with ressin. not clay or wood. when boiling these beads for a long time the ressin will very slowly comes spilling out as a thick drop.
Interesting, Ingrid - I now remember that you explained this before.
All I can say is that when I carefully scratched on the inside of one of the beads shown in the photo, a beige coloured, sand-like substance came out.
One also often reads that these beads are "wax-filled". However, as Ait once pointed out, that would be technically difficult (if we assume that the beads are modelled around the wax core, the wax would become liquid in the process).
Do you know if the the resin is filled in after making the beads (i.e. to stabilize them) or, if it is used as a core which is then covered with silver sheet?
Hi Eva, I have not seen it done, because this is an old system. But I do had these beads made new on order. The beads are made first, in a mall, two halfs and than soldered together. After the beads have been completed, the ressin in liquid form is poured in a metal pin pushed in to make the hole and removed when it is more or less set. Also when I restring these old beads the holes are often more narrow in the center part,compaired to the beginning of the holes. Ressin is Ethiopia is yellow like incense(?)
Betty, my excuses my previous explanation should have been addressed to you. As the question came from you. Eva must also have been confused. It was late and I have been working today. Gr. Ingrid.
That's no problem at all, Ingrid. Hope you can a rest a bit today :-)
Thank you so much for describing how the new Muria beads are made. Maybe there were different techniques used in the past....?
When I scratch the inside of my old beads this sandy materials comes out. Here's a pic. Does this look like the resin you are talking about:
yes Betty this is the material used. Also If you look at your beads you can clearly see the soldering line of the two halves. The way I described it is the traditional way. The jeweller was een older person, now past away and his malls were hidden sothat nobody could copy it again. That is how they work, jewellers and weavers hide their malls. .
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