We are excited to bring a new feature to our web site called Antiquities, offering unique items from around the world in very limited quantities. It's an opportunity to pass along some of my collections, beads, textiles, silver, fossils... a tangible way to share my fascinations. Objects in the Antiquities "room" will be of interest to collectors who love the rare and extraordinary. Once an item is sold out its gone, only the images will remain cataloged as our private "museum," I hope these items bring you joy.

Faience is the oldest artificial substance, first made in Egypt 5500 years ago,  a precursor to glass in ancient times. Made from quartz frit paste, crushed into a powder, mixed with soda and lime, then fired in round, updraft kilns. The process would be repeated to get an intense blue, then crushed into a fine powder and made into a paste. A roll of the Faience mixture would be placed on a grooved board, a matching corrugated board is pushed down, as this tool is pulled back and forth, rustic spherical beads are formed. The entire process is done by hand, accounting for the individuality of each piece. The beads vary slightly in color, size, shape and surface texture which is part of their allure and primitive charm. The only place traditional Faience Beads are produced today is Qom, Iran making them nearly impossible to obtain. Also known as "Donkey Beads" this stash is from my personal collection, dates from the 1970's. Size is approximately 1" x 1" with a hole size of 3mm - 7mm. A single bead strung on a leather cord makes a nomadic statement. "William" the hippopotamus stands in the Met Museum, he along with other ancient Egyptian jewelry and artifacts of this type were made of beautiful blue Faience paste.

Limited quantity. Price is for one bead