19th century, Morocco
These amber beads are like gold. The Moroccans and Tibetans, Jewels too, collect and trade with them. They are part of a woman’s dowry. Once Jewels could count a kilo at a time in her caches but now it is a miracle if she finds one good old bead in a year. This year we were blessed with a small cache from an old collector. The design is elegant. It lays well around the neck and because of the placement of each bead on the hand woven cord, each gets her place to shine. The wear on these wonderful amber beads only enhance them and make them more desirable.
This is a collector’s piece, an heirloom to pass down.
One of a kind, of course!
Largeset bead: 1 1/8 x 1/2″
Necklace length (shorter strand): 19″
A note about our woven cords. We weave these by hand, every one of them. Like all Jewels’ work no two are exact, as each of us. The work is labor intensive. When warmed to the skin the cord becomes more supple, conforms to the wearer, hangs at it should; the necklace transforms more than just a necklace. It becomes her or him.