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Pitt Rivers Museum

1971.15.599.1

Two tapering glass barrel beads [.1-.2] white in the centre with brown ends. Strung together by the collector. [SM 03/11/2010]


1971.15.599.1

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Collection type
Object
Description
Two tapering glass barrel beads [.1-.2] white in the centre with brown ends. Strung together by the collector. [SM 03/11/2010]
Long description
Two tapering glass barrel beads [.1-.2] white in the centre with black ends. Strung together by the collector. The beads are predominantly white, with a small band of opaque glass to one side. Both ends are brown, but one end is a lighter shade than the other on both beads. [SM 03/11/2010]
Geographical reference
Northern Darfur El Fasher [Jablonec nad Nisou]
Cultural groups
Czech
Person
Field collector Anthony John Arkell
PRM source Anthony John Arkell
Date / Period
Date made: Before 1948
Date collected
By 1948
Acquisition information
Donated: 26/10/1971
Materials and processes
Material Bead, Material Glass, Process Perforated, Process Strung, Process Ground, Process Drawn
Dimensions
Diameter: max 5 mm, Diameter: max 5 mm, Length: max 24 mm, Length: max 22 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1971.15.599.1 Accession number: 1971.15.599.2
Research and responses

This bead type may be related to the earlier term, psomit, used by Arab and European traders in mid 19th century Sudan (P. Santi & R. Hill 1980, The Europeans in the Sudan 1834-1878, p. 123). Judging by their descriptions, somit appear to be banded beads, many of which are cylindrical or barrel-shaped; imitation somit were also produced in glass in Germany and Czechoslovakia [SM 03/11/2010]

Search terms: Ornament, Bead, Trade