Photos

Comments

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  ingrid Langerak July 29, 2014 at 4:24pm

  Frankie, I am everytime again flabbergashted that it is being ignored that it could very well be amber beads from Ethiopia.  Because these shapes and different color of amber I have had going through my hands.  Even the large silver bead looks like a bead of the Muria necklace of Ethiopia. So also the flattened beads like beads produced during the 1980 yrs.  So I would give it my shot as  Ethiopian.

  Perhaps Frankie you are not aware that the whole of the Ogadin (Somalie and Harrarque and Harrar, Ethiopia) were heavy amber wearers? The real amber not plastic.   I have traded quite a number of beautiful amber (real) necklaces. in all sizes. The large ones were always passed on pieces.  In Addis Ababa amber is not so much known, there they would call the phenolic or ressin beads amber. 
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  Frankie Carter July 29, 2014 at 5:18pm

  Thanks, Ingrid.

  The silver beads here are definitely Indian. They often used the same methods of construction as are used in Ethiopia but normally the level of silver in them is higher.

  There is a chance that the amber is from Ethiopia. Since it originally derived from the Baltic for Ethiopia, Morocco and Tibet, it is difficult to Know. Traditionally China is held to have had its` own mine - long worked out. Sometimes Burmite is ascribed to China, too.

  I am trying to discover why some amber is described as Chinese..... Because it actually is old Chinese mined amber? Or because sellers would like to present it as such, although it may not be, in order to appeal to the wealthy Chinese market.

  I have no reason to think the seller was lying. And they themselves have a certain amount of expertise in the field and have a good reputation.
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  Betty July 29, 2014 at 5:38pm

  Lovely necklace. It seems hard to me to establish exactly were it is from. I agree, Frankie that Baltic amber was traded everywhere, so usually it's the other components that give better clues to a pieces origin. I am absolutely ignorant on the amber front :-), but I think all the labelling as "Tibetan/Chinese" amber has indeed to do with marketing. But I am happy to be told better.

  Ingrid is right saying that the focal bead might as well be from Ethiopia, but also from Somalia or Yemen.  All these places had a lively trade and cultural exchange with the Subcontinent -hence the similarities. 

  One way or the other: enjoy your necklace!
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  Son of Hmong July 29, 2014 at 6:55pm

  is   african  amber~chinese  amber  more     smooth  and  colour  more  light
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  ait ouakli July 29, 2014 at 9:33pm

  Frankie, did you add the silver beads ? as amber queen for sure not. this amber will look much better with some marocan,west sahara or mauritanian beads
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  Frankie Carter July 29, 2014 at 9:55pm

  Thanks, S o H, for showing Chinese amber. It is really helpful to me - lighter in colour like much Tibetan amber.

  Hey A O - you know me better than that! NO! It was NOT me that added the silver beads. This is how I found it. If I had suitable N. African silver beads I would add them now. Maybe I will make it my mission to find some next time I visit Morocco! I like the idea of finding some Saharwi silver for it.
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  Frankie Carter July 29, 2014 at 10:00pm

  Just to add that all the beads are electrolytic. I have just tested them. But none proved positive in a bakelite test. So maybe they are all amber.
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  ingrid Langerak July 30, 2014 at 2:21am

  Frankie, This has definitely not been by strung by someone who knows about amber, because these beads would definitely eat up the amber beads.  In Ethiopia where these types of beads are worn, they are protected with pieces of leather as amber is a soft material, which you I am sure do know.  If this is not done than the amber rubbes against each other and looses its size.  The very large ambers from the Ogadin(Somalie and Ethiopia) they  mostly have only 2 large beads (very  lovely patterned  blending in) and those are  also protected with a leather pcs. Towards the end of the string two of the muria bead are sometimes added but smaller in size than the amber always.    Strings of this size, are always just amber beads (with protection) so the color of amber is ruling and once in a while varied  with perhaps single muria bead (perhaps three or four) ..

  You know Frankie, that the reason these types of amber beads were worn, it was in the first place a wedding gift passed on, but also it is considered to be very protective against evil things and breathing problems.  But this I am sure you know.
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  ingrid Langerak July 30, 2014 at 2:23am

  correction, 2 large beads means, 2 large silver beads and the rest is a string of all amber with the leather.
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  Frankie Carter July 30, 2014 at 8:42am

  Many thanks, Ingrid. I see many stringings of amber where it is not protected both in newer and older items. Sometimes I think that it is done deliberately to wear down the amber since there are some buyers who like to see it worn round the hole as they think it shows age.

  I am not normally a superstitious person but the belief that wearing amber brings health benefits is so widespread and historical I begin to think there might be some truth in it. Even though the medical profession says otherwise!

  Do you have any photos of Ogadin amber necklaces you could show, please? I find it very difficult to find online photos of real amber from that area and I would love to see one.