Style: Afghanistan, Indonesia, Iran
Size: Height 41 cm
Order Number: MHSAII1

Bead making has been a highly valued skill throughout the world from the earliest times, at least for 40,000 years. Techniques invented by the Ancient Egyptians and Romans are still used today.

They have been used to guard against evil and as adornment. They can indicate a person’s rank and marital status. They are portable wealth and are traded. They are used as amulets in some societies

They are used by religions. The word bead comes from the Anglo-Saxon biddan, meaning to pray. Roman Catholic rosary beads contain a set number of beads for counting prayers, for example 150 for the psalms. Tibetan Buddhist and Hindu rosaries have 108 beads.

The makers guard their techniques closely. In the 13th and 14th centuries the Venetian Doges monopolised world glass making. in 1292 the glass makers were moved to the island of Murano and forbidden to reveal their secrets or even leave. If they did, the punishment was death.

Beads can be made from anything: bone, horn, glass, wood, metals such as gold, silver, bronze, and brass, ceramic, ivory, seeds, berries, stones, shells, pearls, coral, amber, jet and even plastic.

The powerful east Javanese king Kertanegara, whose capital was in Singosari, was brilliant and erudite but brutal and a drunkard.

The post Antique Bead Necklace 1 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Style: Majapahit, Java, Indonesia
Size: Height 24 cm
Order Number: MHSAII10

Old Majapahit beads, new gold beads

Bead making has been a highly valued skill throughout the world from the earliest times, at least for 40,000 years. Techniques invented by the Ancient Egyptians and Romans are still used today.

They have been used to guard against evil and as adornment. They can indicate a person’s rank and marital status. They are portable wealth and are traded. They are used as amulets in some societies

They are used by religions. The word bead comes from the Anglo-Saxon biddan, meaning to pray. Roman Catholic rosary beads contain a set number of beads for counting prayers, for example 150 for the psalms. Tibetan Buddhist and Hindu rosaries have 108 beads.

The makers guard their techniques closely. In the 13th and 14th centuries the Venetian Doges monopolised world glass making. in 1292 the glass makers were moved to the island of Murano and forbidden to reveal their secrets or even leave. If they did, the punishment was death.

Beads can be made from anything: bone, horn, glass, wood, metals such as gold, silver, bronze, and brass, ceramic, ivory, seeds, berries, stones, shells, pearls, coral, amber, jet and even plastic.

The powerful east Javanese king Kertanegara, whose capital was in Singosari, was brilliant and erudite but brutal and a drunkard.

The post Antique Bead Necklace 10 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Style: Majapahit, Java, Indonesia
Size: Height 23 cm
Order Number: MHSAII11

Majapahit beads, Majapahit gold beads

Bead making has been a highly valued skill throughout the world from the earliest times, at least for 40,000 years. Techniques invented by the Ancient Egyptians and Romans are still used today.

They have been used to guard against evil and as adornment. They can indicate a person’s rank and marital status. They are portable wealth and are traded. They are used as amulets in some societies

They are used by religions. The word bead comes from the Anglo-Saxon biddan, meaning to pray. Roman Catholic rosary beads contain a set number of beads for counting prayers, for example 150 for the psalms. Tibetan Buddhist and Hindu rosaries have 108 beads.

The makers guard their techniques closely. In the 13th and 14th centuries the Venetian Doges monopolised world glass making. in 1292 the glass makers were moved to the island of Murano and forbidden to reveal their secrets or even leave. If they did, the punishment was death.

Beads can be made from anything: bone, horn, glass, wood, metals such as gold, silver, bronze, and brass, ceramic, ivory, seeds, berries, stones, shells, pearls, coral, amber, jet and even plastic.

The powerful east Javanese king Kertanegara, whose capital was in Singosari, was brilliant and erudite but brutal and a drunkard.

The post Antique Bead Necklace 11 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Style: Afghanistan, Indonesia, Iran
Size: Height 37 cm
Order Number: MHSAII2

The necklace includes gold beads, animal shaped beads and eye beads. One appears to be slightly broken on the right hand side.

Bead making has been a highly valued skill throughout the world from the earliest times, at least for 40,000 years. Techniques invented by the Ancient Egyptians and Romans are still used today.

They have been used to guard against evil and as adornment. They can indicate a person’s rank and marital status. They are portable wealth and are traded. They are used as amulets in some societies

They are used by religions. The word bead comes from the Anglo-Saxon biddan, meaning to pray. Roman Catholic rosary beads contain a set number of beads for counting prayers, for example 150 for the psalms. Tibetan Buddhist and Hindu rosaries have 108 beads.

The makers guard their techniques closely. In the 13th and 14th centuries the Venetian Doges monopolised world glass making. in 1292 the glass makers were moved to the island of Murano and forbidden to reveal their secrets or even leave. If they did, the punishment was death.

Beads can be made from anything: bone, horn, glass, wood, metals such as gold, silver, bronze, and brass, ceramic, ivory, seeds, berries, stones, shells, pearls, coral, amber, jet and even plastic.

The powerful east Javanese king Kertanegara, whose capital was in Singosari, was brilliant and erudite but brutal and a drunkard.

The post Antique Bead Necklace 2 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Style: Afghanistan
Size: Height 29 cm
Order Number: MHSAII3

Very rare, old black amber beads, and silver dots.

Bead making has been a highly valued skill throughout the world from the earliest times, at least for 40,000 years. Techniques invented by the Ancient Egyptians and Romans are still used today.

They have been used to guard against evil and as adornment. They can indicate a person’s rank and marital status. They are portable wealth and are traded. They are used as amulets in some societies

They are used by religions. The word bead comes from the Anglo-Saxon biddan, meaning to pray. Roman Catholic rosary beads contain a set number of beads for counting prayers, for example 150 for the psalms. Tibetan Buddhist and Hindu rosaries have 108 beads.

The makers guard their techniques closely. In the 13th and 14th centuries the Venetian Doges monopolised world glass making. in 1292 the glass makers were moved to the island of Murano and forbidden to reveal their secrets or even leave. If they did, the punishment was death.

Beads can be made from anything: bone, horn, glass, wood, metals such as gold, silver, bronze, and brass, ceramic, ivory, seeds, berries, stones, shells, pearls, coral, amber, jet and even plastic.

The powerful east Javanese king Kertanegara, whose capital was in Singosari, was brilliant and erudite but brutal and a drunkard.

The post Antique Bead Necklace 3 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Style: Majapahit, Java, Indonesia
Size: Height 29 cm
Order Number: MHSAII4

Majapahit glass beads with gold inside.

Bead making has been a highly valued skill throughout the world from the earliest times, at least for 40,000 years. Techniques invented by the Ancient Egyptians and Romans are still used today.

They have been used to guard against evil and as adornment. They can indicate a person’s rank and marital status. They are portable wealth and are traded. They are used as amulets in some societies

They are used by religions. The word bead comes from the Anglo-Saxon biddan, meaning to pray. Roman Catholic rosary beads contain a set number of beads for counting prayers, for example 150 for the psalms. Tibetan Buddhist and Hindu rosaries have 108 beads.

The makers guard their techniques closely. In the 13th and 14th centuries the Venetian Doges monopolised world glass making. in 1292 the glass makers were moved to the island of Murano and forbidden to reveal their secrets or even leave. If they did, the punishment was death.

Beads can be made from anything: bone, horn, glass, wood, metals such as gold, silver, bronze, and brass, ceramic, ivory, seeds, berries, stones, shells, pearls, coral, amber, jet and even plastic.

The powerful east Javanese king Kertanegara, whose capital was in Singosari, was brilliant and erudite but brutal and a drunkard.

The post Antique Bead Necklace 4 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Style: Majapahit, Java, Indonesia
Size: Height 30 cm
Order Number: MHSAII5

Old Indonesian Majapahit mixed beads.

Bead making has been a highly valued skill throughout the world from the earliest times, at least for 40,000 years. Techniques invented by the Ancient Egyptians and Romans are still used today.

They have been used to guard against evil and as adornment. They can indicate a person’s rank and marital status. They are portable wealth and are traded. They are used as amulets in some societies

They are used by religions. The word bead comes from the Anglo-Saxon biddan, meaning to pray. Roman Catholic rosary beads contain a set number of beads for counting prayers, for example 150 for the psalms. Tibetan Buddhist and Hindu rosaries have 108 beads.

The makers guard their techniques closely. In the 13th and 14th centuries the Venetian Doges monopolised world glass making. in 1292 the glass makers were moved to the island of Murano and forbidden to reveal their secrets or even leave. If they did, the punishment was death.

Beads can be made from anything: bone, horn, glass, wood, metals such as gold, silver, bronze, and brass, ceramic, ivory, seeds, berries, stones, shells, pearls, coral, amber, jet and even plastic.

The powerful east Javanese king Kertanegara, whose capital was in Singosari, was brilliant and erudite but brutal and a drunkard.

The post Antique Bead Necklace 5 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Style: Timor, Indonesia
Size: Height 30 cm
Order Number: MHSAII6

Old Majapahit gold beads and small orange beads called mutisalah which were highly valued and reserved for chieftains. They were made in India from 250 BC and other Southeast Asia countries until 1200 AD and have been found in Palembang, Sumatra, the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia.

Bead making has been a highly valued skill throughout the world from the earliest times, at least for 40,000 years. Techniques invented by the Ancient Egyptians and Romans are still used today.

They have been used to guard against evil and as adornment. They can indicate a person’s rank and marital status. They are portable wealth and are traded. They are used as amulets in some societies

They are used by religions. The word bead comes from the Anglo-Saxon biddan, meaning to pray. Roman Catholic rosary beads contain a set number of beads for counting prayers, for example 150 for the psalms. Tibetan Buddhist and Hindu rosaries have 108 beads.

The makers guard their techniques closely. In the 13th and 14th centuries the Venetian Doges monopolised world glass making. in 1292 the glass makers were moved to the island of Murano and forbidden to reveal their secrets or even leave. If they did, the punishment was death.

Beads can be made from anything: bone, horn, glass, wood, metals such as gold, silver, bronze, and brass, ceramic, ivory, seeds, berries, stones, shells, pearls, coral, amber, jet and even plastic.

The powerful east Javanese king Kertanegara, whose capital was in Singosari, was brilliant and erudite but brutal and a drunkard.

The post Antique Bead Necklace 6 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Style: Central Asia
Size: Height 23 cm
Order Number: MHSAII7

Old glass beads. Animal shaped.

The post Antique Bead Necklace 7 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Style: Central Asia
Size: Height 30 cm
Order Number: MHSAII8

Lapis lazuli.

The post Antique Bead Necklace 8 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Style: Majapahit, Java, Indonesia
Size: Height 21 cm
Order Number: MHSAII9

Majapahit beads, Sumatran gold beads

Bead making has been a highly valued skill throughout the world from the earliest times, at least for 40,000 years. Techniques invented by the Ancient Egyptians and Romans are still used today.

They have been used to guard against evil and as adornment. They can indicate a person’s rank and marital status. They are portable wealth and are traded. They are used as amulets in some societies

They are used by religions. The word bead comes from the Anglo-Saxon biddan, meaning to pray. Roman Catholic rosary beads contain a set number of beads for counting prayers, for example 150 for the psalms. Tibetan Buddhist and Hindu rosaries have 108 beads.

The makers guard their techniques closely. In the 13th and 14th centuries the Venetian Doges monopolised world glass making. in 1292 the glass makers were moved to the island of Murano and forbidden to reveal their secrets or even leave. If they did, the punishment was death.

Beads can be made from anything: bone, horn, glass, wood, metals such as gold, silver, bronze, and brass, ceramic, ivory, seeds, berries, stones, shells, pearls, coral, amber, jet and even plastic.

The powerful east Javanese king Kertanegara, whose capital was in Singosari, was brilliant and erudite but brutal and a drunkard.

The post Antique Bead Necklace 9 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Cotton
Style: Coromandel Coast, India
Size: Height 203 cm, Length 113 cm
Order Number: MHSAIP1

India has been famous from earliest times as a centre for high quality, colourful, fine cotton weaving, as well as a major centre of international trade, especially spices and other luxuries. The two, textiles and trade, are inextricably linked. India’s textiles were in high demand from the Mediterranean to China, including Indonesia, especially Sumatra, Sulawesi, Buton, the Moluccas, and Timor, Thailand and Iran. They  were famous for their colours and fastness of dyes.

There are records in 1508 of Indian textiles in Lisbon. They dominated the textile markets of Asia, where they were used  as a medium of exchange to barter for cloves, pepper and other spices, even after the introduction of money.  In Indonesia, for example, textiles were worn as indicators of rank, prestige and status and were central in religious ceremonies, especially rites of passage, birth, marriage and death. They were exchanged at weddings to bind families together. Some had healing properties. Royalty presented them as gifts to important visitors.

Those kept were prized family heirlooms, stored in the rafters of ancestral houses in rattan baskets, and only used on special occasions, thereby preserving them somewhat. When Indian textiles became scarce or too expensive, their designs were incorporated into local textiles, using ikat or batik.

By the late 17th century Indian textiles were the leading commodities at Persian Gulf ports. Textiles came from the west coast, in particular, Surat, but from the 17th century also the Coromandel Coast on the east coast. There was a steady trade in Persian market palampores from the port of Masulipatam, the main port of the kingdom of Golconda.

This textile is a palampore (from palang-posh bed cover), a hand-painted ceremonial hanging or bed cover that was made in India for the Iranian export market during the 18th century and very early 19th century. Only the wealthiest classes could afford to buy them. The few examples that have survived are very valuable.

A palampore was made using the kalamkari technique. The artist drew designs with a kalam pen on cotton containing mordant and then dipped the textile in dye. The dye only attached to the cloth where the mordant had been applied. The process was repeated for every color. Small details were painted by hand on the cloth after the dying process was finished. It has similarities to Indonesian batik.

Palampore patterns were usually elaborate and complex, depicting a tree, flowers, plants, animals, peacocks, tigers, elephants, deer and horses. Many are seen in this example. The flowering tree is a cypress. It is less exuberant than the trees for the Indonesian market and more in keeping with Persian taste. There is Arabic writing at the top: Khadem Mohammed Hussain, the name of the owner of the textile.

The tree is the Tree of Life, a universal symbol, with roots in the underworld and branches in heaven. It features among the most ancient cultures on earth. Indian trade textiles depicting the Tree of Life were immediately recognisable by their trading partners.

Palampore were primarily exported to Iran, but also in considerable quantities in the more flamboyant style to the Dutch in Indonesia, Ceylon and Europe. The Toraja people of central Sulawesi used Indian textiles in their rituals and ceremonies and adopted the flowering tree into their own designs.

The most comprehensive Indian textile collection in the world is in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

There is an example from the Victoria and Albert Museum in Woven Cargoes, Indian Textiles in the East, John Guy, Thames and Hudson, 1998, page 50.

18th – early 19th century.

Map of Coromandel Coast.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

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