Photos

Comments

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  ingrid Langerak March 20, 2014 at 2:53pm

  Betty, the copal beads I do believe they are the real amber beads, seeing the color and the dept patterns within.  These would be the Harrar (town amber beads.) Lovely necklace, is not traditional but a lovely combination and well strung. Gr. Ingrid.
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  Thelma March 20, 2014 at 3:03pm

  Lovely Betty. I'm sure you find many opportunities for wearing it! Aren't the two long beads the finials from another necklace, possibly Yemeni. I've often seen them used like this.
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  Betty March 20, 2014 at 3:52pm

  Thanks a lot, Ingrid and Thelma. It's very wearable indeed. I've also wondered if the big beads might be real amber, but my experience with this material is limited. They are very smooth and almost identical in shape. I'm adding a close up here:
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  Toya March 20, 2014 at 5:15pm

  Lovely necklace!
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  ingrid Langerak March 20, 2014 at 8:39pm

  Betty I have no doubt about it they are the real thing AMBER this shapes were worn by the Harrar nobility ladies in long strings graduating into larger beads with a beautiful silk plume at the bottom.  They often reached until their knees on their puffed=up heavy dark green or purple  silk skirts.  Real stunners. I did have about 5 chains of these but unfortunately I had to sell them a couple of years ago .
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  Frankie Carter March 20, 2014 at 9:03pm

  i`ve never seen an Ethiopian necklace I`ve liked more! Like ingrid I`m quite sure the amber is real. Much amber in such necklaces isn`t or is copal. These amber beads look exactly like the type of amber that is currently selling so well and at high prices. Even for one bead! It looks like Baltic amber to me.

  I really love the colour restraint in this. And the smooth warm amber against the metallic sheen of the metal.
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  Betty March 20, 2014 at 9:51pm

  Thank you very much ladies! Well, if it is real amber, it was an absolute bargain. I know the pictures of Harrar or Somali ladies wearing such amber beads as describes by Ingrid (- what a shame you no no longer own them!!). There is also a picture in Africa Adorned, I think.

  Anyway, I love wearing this necklace. Frankie described it well: the warm amber colour and the silver beads make a wonderful contrast. Even my relevant other, who is that interested in jewellery, likes it :-)
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  Eva Baby March 21, 2014 at 9:41am

  Beautiful Betty! I had Problems with my Computer and could not get on Ethnic for some days.... therefore I comment only now, on another Computer.. It is a real Beauty! If it is real amber, great, but I do not believe that one can tell this by a photo. Lets hope it is the real Thing. Anyway, it Looks stunning.
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  Betty March 21, 2014 at 1:20pm

  Thank you, Eva! I wondered were you where...hope you are soon online again!

  Whether the amber beads were deal or not, didn't even figure as a question when I acquired this piece. I definitely didn't pay the prices they would ask for real amber these days :-)) Just loved the design, the colour, the lovely old beads and in particular the Argobba pendant (though it looks actually like a very new one to me).  
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  Frankie Carter March 21, 2014 at 2:02pm

  Eva, of course you are right. It`s not possible to tell real amber from a photo. Even when one`s actually holding it it can sometimes be difficult.

  However I`d be happy to lay a bet that this is real. But even if these beads were, say, bakelite, they would still be collectable and have some value.

  Though in my opinion the true value - not necessarily financially based - lies in the necklace`s overall aura.