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.
You need to be a member of Adorned Histories to add comments!
Request your copy of our newsletter.
If you would like to receive our newsletter
Comments
You are right the wear and tear on old copal or amber beads (very rare in Africa) is a lovely sight. The old beads hanging next to each other on a string get rather flat at the sides as one can see very nicely in old (Birmese amber) beads from Naga tribes.
The yellow amber is Ethiopia was worn by the islamic women from the northern and eastern regions,quite intensive. But not by the christian highlanders. This the yellow amber. The smaller pieces do get less and less because as they are worn as a necklace without protection they do disappear. There are beautiful large chains (passed on pieces) specially in the Ogadin region. I myself have been the owner of several beautiful pieces but sold them. Like the ones shown in Angela,s Fisher,s book. (the large ones for the women from the country side. Now copal is more used (and already for many years plastic are replacing them).