ANTIQUE SILVER MARKING

Materials: cowry shells, bauxite, Kirdi (Fala) brass bells and beads, copal amber, which is not amber at all, but 1880s thermal plastic (Bakelite) made in Britain. The British traded thermal plastic beads in many regions Afrika. These were in the form of rods from which Afrikans fashioned beads. The region of the bead can be determined by the shape, embellishment and sometimes color (altered) of the beads. Length 16”

It is worth noting that many of the materials used for adornment on the Afrikan continent are there by way of trade. Therefore it is not uncommon to find silver jewelry in North/Northeast Afrika to have originated in Yemen, in East Afrika from India, and in the entirety of Afrika from Europe. The term trade beads encompasses beads that are indigenous as well as beads traded on the continent from other parts of the world. The most familiar grouping and largest quantity of trade beads from outside of the continent, originated in Italy. The Czechs also supplied a fair number of beads for trade. Although some of the most desired beads are cobalt blue, and referred to as Russian blues, the Russians had no bead making industry. However, these and the white hearts (red with white center) were traded in North America by the Hudson Bay Trading Company.

The trade beads were at their height of popularity in the 1960s-70s. They are to be found in museums and private collections all over the world. As time progressed they have become more rare, the finest qualities already having found their way into collections. It is increasingly more difficult to find these beads on the Afrikan continent, resulting in a greater demand. The beads in my collection and used in my jewelry were purchased primarily between the 1960s and 1980s when better beads were readily available.

well! right here, in the northwestern corner of these states that reside in the northern hemisphere, all the world is green...............

~apple wine ring - chrysoprase
~salt of the earth necklace - bloodstone
~sherwood forest ring - siberian jade (yowza!)
~salt of the earth earrings - bloodstone
~loch ness ring - jade
~salt of the earth ring - bloodstone
~necklace for anne boleyn - rose-cut prehnite
~maid marian ring - prehnite, set in a 14 karat gold bezel!

i'll be doing my best to get these into the shop tonight and tomorrow ~~ may you sprout fresh green rootlings of happiness, and take sweet joy in fresh leaves and blossoms, those of yesterday, today and tomorrow.....

****************************
I fell into the ocean
When you became my wife
I risked it all against the sea
To have a better life
Marie you're the wild blue sky
And men do foolish things
You turn kings into beggars
And beggars into kings

Pretend that you owe me nothing
And all the world is green
We can bring back the old days again
And all the world is green

The face forgives the mirror
The worm forgives the plow
The questions begs the answer
Can you forgive me somehow
Maybe when our story's over
We'll go where it's always spring
The band is playing our song again
And all the world is green

Pretend that you owe me nothing
And all the world is green
We can bring back the old days again
And all the world is green

The moon is yellow silver
Oh the things that summer brings
It's a love you'd kill for
And all the world is green

He is balancing a diamond
On a blade of grass
The dew will settle on our grave(s)
When all the world is green

~~the fabulous tom waits