Jewels

A beautiful and elegant old silver and carnelian agate ring from Afghanistan. Carnelian beads from the Indian subcontinent are documented in deposits as disparate and distant as the Niger basin or Mesopotamia and in times as old as the Sumerian civilization.

A lovely old silver ring from Afghanistan. Features a delicate granulated work with small side cabuchons and a large central one with a carnelian stone. 

An old Afghan silver ring featuring a lovely carnelian central cabochon and an attractive granulated decoration. Fantastic patina. 

A beautiful and elegant old silver and carnelian agate ring from Afghanistan.The cabochon houses a precious agate carnelian stone bead held by a silver rod. Carnelian beads from the Indian subcontinent are documented in deposits as disparate and distant as the Niger basin or Mesopotamia and in times as old as the Sumerian civilization.

A beautiful and elegant old silver and carnelian agate ring from Afghanistan. Carnelian beads from the Indian subcontinent are documented in deposits as disparate and distant as the Niger basin or Mesopotamia and in times as old as the Sumerian civilization.

A beautiful and rare antique silver ring from Afghanistan. Its singularity lies in the ancient so-called Dutch chevron glass bead in the central cabochon that would have usually had a stone attached.

Dutch chevron glass beads are produced  in the eighteenth century in the city of Amsterdam in order to imitate rock crystal and other precious stones in the trade with the African and American colonies.

Nice patina

A beautiful and rare antique silver ring from Afghanistan. Its singularity lies in the ancient so-called Dutch chevron glass bead in the central cabochon that would have usually had a stone attached.

Dutch chevron glass beads are produced  in the eighteenth century in the city of Amsterdam in order to imitate rock crystal and other precious stones in the trade with the African and American colonies.

Nice patina

An old silver with white stone cabochon ring from Afghanistan. 

A beautiful old silver ring with a wonderful banded agate stone cabochon from Afghanistan. The banded agates are very sought after and appreciated by the people of the Hindu Kush, Karakorum and the Himalayas, since they consider that they attract good luck.

A beautiful old silver and carnelian agate ring from Afghanistan. Nice patina.

A very fancy Bohemian glass beads necklace from the 1920’. Glass masters from Bohemia and Moravia have been producing glass beads from more than ten centuries. Of course also during the European colonial period exporting large quantities of trade beads. Very precious for locals in West Africa for its fancy colors and numerous shapes. Elegant!

We use the term trade beads to refer to the European made glass beads that were used by the European merchants and explorers in the trade in Africa as from the 15th century and continued during their colonial expansion.

The history of trade beads in Africa takes us then to the 15th century and the arrival of the Euro-pean, mainly the Portuguese, to the coasts of West Africa. The European discovered quite soon how much the people they met there fancied beads and saw they an opportunity for trade. Amongst the beads that captivated the African people most were glass beads since the techniques for their making had not yet been developed locally. The locals fell for the precious and colorful glass beads such as Venetian millefiori or chevron beads that the European traders had on offer and bartered them for commodities such as precious woods, ivory, gold and even used, ignomi-niously, in the slave trade. The increasing demand in Africa of European made glass beads conti-nued quite until the first half of the 20th century and it had a boosting effect in the production in cities such as Venice which glass beads became very popular and coveted.

An eye-catching and fancy Kuchi necklace from Afghanistan. It is made of beautifully chained metal beads and glass cabochons. The Kuchi people, from the Persian -koch- meaning migration, are Afghan pashtoons nomads divided in a number of tribes that inhabit areas of Afghanistan and, to a lesser extent, Pakistan. Their jewellery has become extremely popular among those practising oriental dances and belly-dancing.

A magnificent old Kuchi silver and glass necklace. This piece is an excellet sample of jewellery from that ethnic group. It is made of silver, glass cabochons and other tiny beads. Superb patina and piece. The real thing and certainly not one of the modern version on offer nowadays. The Kuchi people, from the Persian -koch- meaning migration, are Afghan pastoons nomads divided in a number of tribes that inhabit areas of Afghanistan and, to a lesser extent, Pakistan. Early XXth century.

A superb silver and enamel necklace from the Hazara, an ethnic minority group of persian origin that lives in central and Northeastern Afghanistan and in Northwestern Pakistan. This necklace features three flat silver plaques beautifully enameled in two different shades of blue and red with plant decoration. Sadly the technique for the making of these quality pieces has faded. The ensemble also includes nice silver beads and tiny blue, white and green glass beads which make the arrangement extremely attractive. A trip to the "Arabian Nights". The silver plaques are form the second half of the XIXth century and the arrangement more recent.

Simple yet great Tuareg silver and cornaline ring (tisek). It features a nice engraved side decoration. It is also ocassionally used as a hair ornament. Great patina. The Tuareg are a nomadic Berber (amazigh) group that lives in the Sahara Desert. Mid-XXth century.

It can be used like pendant.

Simple yet great Tuareg silver and glass ring (tisek). It features a nice engraved side decoration. It is also ocassionally used as a hair ornament. Great patina. The Tuareg are a nomadic Berber (amazigh) group that lives in the Sahara Desert. Mid-XXth century.

It can be used like pendant.

There are not many examples of beadwork weaving among the Berbers, this labor is much more frequent in sub-Saharan Africa. This beautiful pectoral necklace comes from the Taza region in the Moroccan Middle Atlas.

A lovely necklace made of old recycled -pâte de verre- discs from Ghana. 

A lovely necklace made of old recycled -pâte de verre- discs from Ghana. 

A lovely necklace made of old recycled -pâte de verre- discs from Ghana. 

A lovely necklace made of old recycled -pâte de verre- discs from Ghana. 

A lovely necklace made of old recycled -pâte de verre- discs from Ghana. 

A lovely necklace made of old recycled -pâte de verre- beads from Ghana. 

A lovely necklace made of old recycled -pâte de verre- beads from Ghana. 

A lovely necklace made of recycled glass beads -pâte de verre- from Ghana. 

An outstanding old silver and mother of pearl cabuchon Afghan ring. Just beautiful!

An old silver with bakelite resin cabochon ring from Afghanistan. These type of rings usually have an agate, turquoise or lapis lazuli stone but it was probably lost over time and was successfully replaced by this cheerful yellow color. 

A beautiful old silver ring from Afghanistan. Features a large central cabochon with an rare color agate stone. Nice patina.

A charming old turquoise and silver ring from Afghanistan. The setting is formed by a rosette of little silver domes with a lovely central turquoise cabochon.

An old silver Afghan ring featuring a lovely green glass. Simply beautiful!

A lovely old silver ring with nine small set turquoises and coral beads. Its shape and design clearly recalls of the Bedouin rings from Oman and other areas of the Arabian Peninsula. The Kuchi nomads (of Pasthun ethnicity) cross the vast territory that goes from Iran to India, so their creations are always rich fusions of different styles. Unique.

A lovely old silver ring with nine small set turquoises and coral beads. Its shape and design clearly recalls of the Bedouin rings from Oman and other areas of the Arabian Peninsula. The Kuchi nomads (of Pasthun ethnicity) cross the vast territory that goes from Iran to India, so their creations are always rich fusions of different styles. Unique.

A lovely old silver and carnelian agate ring from Afghanistan. The granulated composition forms a hollow space that was traditionally used to hold a piece of cloth soaked in perfume and that would serve to scare away evil spirits. Beautiful patina.

A joyful Afghan old silver, turquoise and resin ring. These multiple cabochon rings, double, triple or even quadruple, are very characteristic of the Kuchi people, nomads of ethnic Pashtun who travel the vast territory between Iran and India, making their creations a rich mixture of influences.

A beautiful old silver and carnelian agate ring from Afghanistan. Nice patina.

A beautiful old silver and carnelian agate cabochon ring from Afghanistan.