Gallery

Comments

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  Joost Daalder July 10, 2011 at 2:28pm

  Yes, these look like a collection of agate beads, though unless you are close to  them you may often confuse them with glass. It looks like a necklace, but I am also reminded of prayer beads.
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  Jamey D. Allen July 12, 2011 at 2:16pm

  A few months ago, I documented a group of antique beads that are very similar.  However (as fate would have it), on the same day I bought a group of new Chinese beads that are VERY similar.  I will endeavor to show both groups.  I find the name "sulemani"--though suddenly popular--to be almost worthless.  It seems applicable (or applied) to nearly ANY dark/light banded agate beads, spanning nearly 5,000 years of production.  Plus, these assemblages often include 20th C. German beads (from Idar-Oberstein), and now new Chinese beads.  The authentic antique and ancient beads are largely from India--and there are often called "babagoria" agate.  Although many people think their colors are "natural," they are actually artificially enhanced via the caramelization/carbonization process(es), as I have discussed for many years.   Jamey
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  Joost Daalder July 12, 2011 at 2:23pm

  Thanks Jamey. I must admit that I also thought of caramelization, which seems to occur very often - though I must admit that aesthetically I like it!