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• Handcrafted
Contemporary Kiffa Bead (Circa 1990s); Origin: United States;
Collected: United States -- Description below identifies the
history of traditional Kiffa beads
• Ancient Organic Shell Carved Heishe Beads (Exact Age
Unknown); Origin: Unknown; Collected: Indus Valley,
Afghanistan
• Handcrafted Sterling Silver Patterned Long Tubes from Bali
• Handcrafted Sterling Silver Toggle Clasp from Thailand
• Sterling Silver Findings
• Finished with Silver French Bullion
• Length: 16.5”
N0903-115: $175.00
$145.00
(free S&H)
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KIFFA BEAD
(Contemporary): The traditional art of making old Kiffa beads
is extinct and were originally made in Kiffa, Mauritania,
Africa. Kiffa beads (particulary the triangle shapes) were
used as hair adornments by the Kiffa women. Kiffa beads
represent one of the highest levels of artistic skill and
ingenuity in bead making, being handcrafted with the simplest
materials and tools available. No one is really certain of the
age of this period of Kiffa bead making. According to Peter
Francis, Jr., (internationally known bead expert), the making
of powder glass beads in West Africa may date back a few
hundred years, and to possibly 1200 CE in Mauritania. Although
the making of Mauritanian powder glass beads appears to be an
ancient tradition, no archaeological evidence to establish
their age has been found to date. Most of the experts in this
field date Kiffa beads from the early 1900s through the 1940s.
These beads were individually made by hand. There is a central
core made out of various materials. This core is sometimes
made from dark gray powdered glass and sometimes non-glass
materials. Using a needle and spit, tiny portions of blue,
red, yellow or white powdered glass was laboriously applied to
the bead core. This was done over and over again until the
beads were totally covered with this outer layer of powdered
glass. They resulted in monochrome with dots or stripes. The
semi-finished beads were then “cooked” over outdoor open fires
until the powdered glass fused without molds. Old Kiffa beads
are very, very rare and are extremely difficult to find,
especially in good condition. Many of them have been repaired
and repainted.
Since the early 1990s, organized groups of women bead makers
are again making Kiffa beads by trying to use traditional
methods and even so, there is a limited number of contemporary
beads available. The craftsmanship of the new beads has not
reached the high standards and quality that can be observed in
the old beads. Western artists have made their own versions in
polymer clay or lampworked glass. Even finding a high quality
contemporary Kiffa is uncommon. However, this contemporary
Kiffa bead is made of lampworked glass and is a beautiful
testament to the traditional specimen. Circa 1990s; Origin:
United States; Collected: United States.
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