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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 superb pair of old silver hoops from the Hazara, an ethnic minority group of persian origin that lives in central and Northeastern Afghanistan and in Northwestern Pakistan. This sample shows outstanding engraving and it is rimmed with delicate granulation work. Large size. It probably comes from the Nuristan region in Afghanistan or from Pakistan. An example of this quality and age are very hard to come by and have become very much sought after. Early XXth century.

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.

An interesting old Berber piece from Southern Morocco. The upper part is a cluster of red coral branches, an assortment of beads of glass, silver and stone and old coins. This arrangement protects a small leather amulet (-gris-gris-) hidden underneath. The coins are two twenty-cent silver coins from the French emperor Napoleon III of 1867 and two one-dirham silver coins from Meknes from the XVIIIth century. The lower part is a fragment of iron and brass mail or mesh. A rare headornament also found in Southern Algeria. Outstanding and rare piece from the third quarter of the XIXth 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.

A pair of old Berber silver earrings found in Taliouine in Southern Morocco. They are worn by the women of the group of the A

Great vintage cedar wood chest or -sunduk- from Morocco. Features high use patina giving it a marked personality.

An old carved cedarwood chest from Morocco. Its carved decoration shows a serie of arches that represent the mihrab of mosques.These pieces of furniture or -sunduk- were used to keep valuables belongings such as jewellery, glass, cosmetics, etc.

Great cedarwood chest from Morocco. Its shows a wonderful painted decoration showing vegetal and flower motifs very characteristic from that region. However not all its panels are painted as it was common to decorate only those parts exposed.

A superb old wooden footed chest from the Siroua region in Southerneast Morocco. Its shows a rich and nice painted decoration showing intertwined circles which if very characteristic from the Berber group of the Aït Ouaouzguite. This kind of pieces of furniture or -sunduk- was used by the bride to keep her trousseau and other personal belongings such as jewellery. Not to be missed. Beautiful patina.

Great vintage cedar wood chest or -sunduk- from Morocco. Features high use patina giving it a marked personality.

Great vintage cedar wood chest or -sunduk- from Morocco. Features high use patina giving it a marked personality.

A superb vintage Moroccan cedarwood wall shelf or spice rack. It is used in the kitchen to store the different jars and cans where spices and other Moroccan traditional seasonings are kept at hand. An original and full of character touch to the look of your kitchen.  

A superb vintage Moroccan cedarwood wall shelf or spice rack. It is used in the kitchen to store the different jars and cans where spices and other Moroccan traditional seasonings are kept at hand. An original and full of character touch to the look of your kitchen.  

A charming vintage Moroccan cedarwood shelf or spice cabinet partially painted. It is used in the kitchen to store the different jars and cans where spices and other Moroccan traditional seasonings are kept at hand. An original and full of character touch to the look of your kitchen.  

A great old Senufo bed probably meant for a child due to its size. A wonderful and original piece of African ethnography.

A great set of four ancient Islamic lampwork glass beads featuring a great spiral/feather pattern high relief decoration in a captivating yellow and whitish colors on a great black core. Full of character and showing a great patina considering their age.

The larger bead is approximately 15mm (long) by 9mm (diameter).

When referring to Islamic beads we follow bead expert Robert K. Liu’s description in Ornament Magazine: “The term Islamic Period Glass Beads is used, similarly to Roman Period Beads, to classify groups of ornaments from specific geographic areas and time periods, with recognizable characteristics including patterns and techniques. In the case of Islamic glass beads we know they originated in the Middle East and flourished mostly between the seventh and twelfth centuries. Their designs display a wide mix of techniques and styles: millefiori/mosaic (including pierced mosaic pad beads), trailed, filigreed, combed, fused rods, segmented/blown, folded (an Islamic innovation, Holland and Holland 2006) and those derived from amulet shapes, like charmcase beads with loops.” Islamic glass beads travelled from their sources of production in the Middle and Near East together with the expansion of Islam to North Africa, Southern Europe (Spain), India and the Far East and they reached areas well beyond Islam’s actual limits of expansion such as Northern Europe. They also flowed into Sub-Saharan Africa, where they were valued and cherished for centuries in the Malian ancient kingdoms as a symbol of status and played an important role in the communities’ rites and ceremonies such a burials, initiation or dowries.

Lamp working is one of the main techniques for the making of glass beads. Lamp or lamp work beads were made using glass canes that were reheated to a temperature of up to 1000 ºC by means of a blowtorch or blowlamp and which were then wound onto a coated iron rod to avoid the molten glass from sticking to the metal. The beads produced by the artisan by these means could be then further decorated by re-heating the bead using the same lamp work method and applying colored glass rods or glass cane inserts to the surface of the bead creating an endless variation of patterns and making of each bead one of its own.   

A great panel or fragment of a Moroccan antique cedarwood wooden ceiling from Morocco. It features a lovely painted decoration which makes it a very eye-catching piece. A truly artisan piece of art full of decorative possibilities. From a headboard to a table. You name it but do not let it go!.

A nice and old berber decorated wood box traditionally used to store the rock sugar used to prepare the famous morocan tea. Superb patina.

Old small wood chest from Morocco. So worn by use and superb patina.

A charming artisan handmade cedar wood side table from Morocco. Octagonal shape. Natural color so that you may keep it like that or give it your own personal final touch.

A charming artisan handmade cedar wood side table from Morocco. Octagonal shape. Natural color so that you may keep it like that or give it your own personal final touch.

A beautiful middle-size Bamileke royal stool featuring the characteristic spider web wood openwork. The spider does in fact play a fundamental role in the iconography of the Bamileke as a symbol of wisdom and as a means to get the ancestors' messages during divinations rites.

An exquisite old silver, red coral and turquoise bracelet. It features a wonderful chiselled and engraved decoration and most appealing rosettes ornated with coral and turquoise cabochons. Its design takes us to the pashtoon tribes in Northern Pakistan and Afghanistan. The quality of the chiselling, engraving and granulation on this piece is outstanding, elegant and well-balanced. First half of the XXth century.

A very attractive Berber old silver bracelet. It has lost part of its chiselled decoration due to intensive use but it has got a wonderful patina instead. 

A great old Moroccan Berber silver bracelet from the Occidental Anti-Atlas. Beautiful incised decoration and very nice patina.

A very attractive Berber old silver bracelet. It has lost part of its chiselled decoration due to intensive use but it has got a wonderful patina instead.