Kiffa Beads, Mauritania, OLD, Authentic, 3 Beads Start Price USD 299.00 Current Price USD 299.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Tuesday, November 18, 2008 End Time Thursday, December 18, 2008 Location Denver, CO See more about 'Kiffa Beads, Mauritania, OLD, Authentic, 3 Beads' Description Kiffa Beads, Mauritania, OLD, Authentic,  3 BeadsOther names:  kiffa beadsType of bead:  powder glass over a coreMade in:  Kiffa, MauritaniaFound in : Kiffa, MauritaniaApproximate Age: early to mid 1900sOverall Condition:  Good.  Some of these beads have traveled at least three continents, and have graced numerous owners. Small chips, corrosion, and pitting are a normal part of their patina attesting to their age and extensive use. Damage, Repair:  one red bead shows some slight chipping around the perforation.Three fantastic old Kiffa beads from Mauritania.   The art of making Kiffa beads, even remotely similar to these old beads, is gone. These beads were made in Kiffa, Mauritania, Africa. They were used as hair adornment by the Kiffa women. Nodody is really certain of the age of this period of Kiffa bead making. Most of the experts in this field date them from the early 1900s through to the 1940s. These beads were individually made by hand. There is a central core made out of various materials. This core is sometimes made from dark gray powdered glass and sometimes non-glass materials. Using a needle and spit, tiny portions of red or blue or yellow or white powdered glass was laboriously applied to the bead core. This was done over and over again until the beads were totally covered with this outer layer of powdered glass. Monochrome, with dots or with stripes. The semi-finished beads were then "cooked" over outdoor open fires until the powdered glass fused. Old Kiffas like these have very small perforations. These beads are difficult to find these**019568** All content, including pictures, Copyright Africa Direct Inc., 2006 Add Us To Your Favorite Sellers! Please visit our About Us page. Place a Bid!