Ancient Nila and Fouille Beads
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The following pages contain some beautiful strands of rare ancient Nila and assorted coloured glass, stone and terra cotta beads from the Dogon and Gao areas of Mali. Although popularly known as 'Nila' ( the Arabic word for blue and Sanskrit for Indigo ) they display a beautiful translucent blue green colour when held up to a light source.
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Most of these beads probably arrived in Mali around 1000 years ago, via the ancient trade routes to Djenné .. from other areas of Africa, Europe and the Middle East .. many have been buried beneath the Sahara Desert sands for centuries.
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Fouille is the name Malian bead dealers use for similarly beautiful translucent beads, which are probably of a similar age to the Nila, as they are found amongst them.

Extra long strands of 1st class early translucent blue Nila .. very rare to find in such quantity and quality .. with a few Fouille and mixed coloured ancient glass beads found in situ.
All have been slightly oiled to better reveal their true colours

Item Number

Strand Length

Bead Sizes

Price

(5) anL 249-35

30 ins / 76 cm

4 x 7 to 5 x 13 mm

£86 Sold

(6) anL 249-36

27 ins / 69 cm

3 x 5 to 4 x 8 mm

£80 Sold

(7) anL 249-37

27 ins / 69 cm

3 x 5 to 6 x 7 mm

£80 Sold

(8) anL 249-38

27 ins / 69 cm

3 x 5 to 5 x 7 mm

 £80 Sold

(9) anL 249-39

27 ins / 69 cm

3 x 5 to 16 x 8 mm

£80 Sold

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