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Necklace, D88.178

Physical Description

Necklace is composed of 101 small white beads. Each bead is somewhat cube shaped with a small circle containing a small hole in the centre carved (?) on each of 4 faces of cube. Opposite two faces have had a hole bored (?) through the centre to contain the fibre for stringing the full strand. Donor's description says material is ivory. Hand lens shows major irregularities of size, shape and carving details amongst beads with appearance of chisel/knife marks over surface. This suggests that beads are hand made, though actual material is uncertain. A string composed of multiple twisted fibres runs through each of the beads. The shiny nature of the string suggests it is synthetic. A spring loaded metal clasp ties the ends of the strands together.

Research Notes

Would be consistent with donor's description of being from Maiduguri, Bornu Province, Northeastern Nigeria. Ivory/bone/plastic/seed (?) beads strung on synthetic(?) fibre. Metal (silver/nickel (?) )clasp. Likely a necklace or prayer beads. Necklace is composed of 101 small white beads. Each bead is somewhat cube shaped with a small circle containing a small hole in the centre carved (?) on each of 4 faces of cube. Opposite two faces have had a hole bored (?) through the centre to contain the fibre for stringing the full strand. Donor's description says material is ivory. Hand lens shows major irregularities of size, shape and carving details amongst beads with appearance of chisel/knife marks over surface. This suggests that beads are hand made, though actual material is uncertain. A string composed of multiple twisted fibres runs through each of the beads. The shiny nature of the string suggests it is synthetic. A spring loaded metal clasp ties the ends of the strands together. Length of necklace (strand doubled) = 340mm. Bead diam. runs roughly between 7 - 8 mm. —Joel A Vanderburg

Provenance

Donated
Locality

Measurements

Maximum dimensions (H x W x D): 250 x 190 x 9mm

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