A SPANISH SAHARAN SILVER RING WITH CHEVRON GLASS BEAD
Collected in Guelmim or Tiznit, Southern Morocco, ex-Spanish Sahara, North Africa, 1970s

With a circular silver bezel set with a flattened chevron bead of black, white, and red glass, the edges of the bezel formed from a ringlet of silver spherical beads, filed to achieve a smooth surface and repeating the sunburst solar design of the bead, the upper portion of the shanks enhanced with two circles between convex bands.

2.1cm x 2cm x 1.5cm

Ring size 54 / 7

1.75cm diameter

15gr.

Chevron glass beads have a very ancient history. Some scholars attribute their origin to Ancient Egypt, whilst others believe that their ‘official’, finalised form was only achieved in Venice. From this international harbour on the Adriatic Sea, the majority of chevron glass beads would have then travelled abroad, reaching several different shores in the Mediterranean basin. The importance given to glass in the Western and Northern African regions is thus historical and should not surprise. Indeed, up until the 18th century, glass beads were so sought-after that they were used as currency for transactions and barters.

For an historical account on the development of chevron glass beads and their trading in ancient times: John Brent, “On Glass Beads with a Chevron Pattern”, in Archaelogia: On Miscellaneous Tracts relating to Antiquity, Volume XLV, 1880, pp. 297 - 309, plate no. 22.

For further reference and comparable material: Robert K. Liu, A Universal Aesthetic: Collectable Beads, 1995, pp. 30 - 32.