Strand of Berber Amber from Morocco, 18 inches long plus braided cords so it could be worn as is.
Necklace includes 17 mostly large amber beads and 6 traditional silver/white metal beads, the largest stamped with celestial designs
Amber beads range from 17 to 44mm diameter, silver beads are 28mm, 19 and 16mm diameter.
Amber has a special place in the Berber culture of Morocco's Atlas Mountains, were it is treasured for its beauty and and near-magical medicinal properties. Strands are traditionally given by a man to his wife upon marriage, and worn on special occasions thereafter.
Far less expensive than the antique African Amber from Mali and west Africa, these resin beads also have a greater range of colors, from dark red through to light amber, as well as more varied shapes, and sizes.
They have an individually handmade feel - more as if molded from a soft material than carved from a hard one - and I'm inclined to believe the trader I bought them from, who says that they are locally made. I haven't seen anything quite like them in any of the other amber-loving regions of the world I visit.
Back in the early 1970's when I was last in Morocco I saw Mali style African Amber and some obviously plastic imitations in Berber necklaces, along with some real copal.
The strands I'm offering here seem to be a somewhat more recent iteration of the the flamboyant Berber jewelry that has endured for centuries, and shows no signs of fading away. I hope to learn more when I revisit Morocco this fall.
Large African beads as home decor accents is a trend I'm seeing more and more, and nothing lights up a room like a strand of these snaking across a coffee table or hanging on a wall....add a stack of books about African art, a hammered brass bowl, and maybe a plant...Whatever you do with them enjoy!
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