Ethnic Design Collection Reto Zehnder

A restrung necklace with a mix of glass and various quarz beads and a triangular black gem beads as central bead.

Berber necklace from Morocco with three strand of large amber imitation and glass beads. A total of 86 beads variying in diametre from 18 to 48 mm. The fake amber beads are made in a village near to Marakesh from melted plastic and are sold today by the kilo. They are not valuable.

Carved from raw amber This necklace has a nice butterscotch – honey colour. This amber has been checked with UV light in salt water and with hot needle. 100% natural Baltic amber.

Nice natural amber necklacewith beautiful honey colours.

Blue colored amber are rare. It shynes blue in sunlight(UV) on a dark background.

Blue amber datation is controversial, approximative 20 - 30 millions years, but other estimation varie between 10 and 100 million years.

Copal necklace from Morocco. Necklace made, like often, with a rope. and 48 beads. The beads dimension is about 2.2 cm and one which is slightly larger 2.7 cm

Old Tibetan necklace with 51 barrel shaped beads. Each bead measuring approx. 15 x 10 mm. They have a nice shiny patina and are in perfect condition.

A string of 64 nice shiny copal beads of different shapes and sizes, most of them with a diameter of aprrox. 10 mm.

A string of 37 more or less identical spherical copal beads measuring approximatively 28

X 20 mm. They were collected in 1970th in West Africa

These buttescotch jellow amber beads are unpolished. There are 35 beads , the largest measures 55 mm x 32 mm.

Necklace newly mounted with 21 old very large copal beads, with 8 old white shell beads.

Nine of the copal amber beads have an irregular disc shape, the rest are spherical. The origin is uncertain, while the copal beads may be old African trade beads, the white shell beads seems to be of Asian origin. The largest disc beads have diameter of 55 mm.

Very large and beautiful necklace of 21 large Copal Amber beads. the largest having a diameter of 55 mm, the smalest of 32 mm. All having a nice patina. They are mounted on a thick, black cotton string with coconut shell inserts separating the beads. Several beads have nice traditional repairs. An outstanding piece.

This outstanding necklace with 21 large beads made of an early amber imitation, sold for centuries in Africa as amber, but is most likely an amber imitation of phenolic resin. Such beads have been produce for the African trade since early 20th century in Germany. All beads are in perfect condition with a nice patina.

21 large beads made of an early amber imitation, sold for centuries in Africa as amber, but is most likely an amber imitation of phenolic resin. Such beads have been produce for the African trade since early 20th century in Germany. All beads are in perfect condition with a nice patina.

Necklace with approximatively 120 small translucid amber beads

Necklace with over 200 small baltic amber beads

Antique real amber beads sourced from West Africa, this string has 72 amber beads of different shapes and sizes. Most of them in a nice butterscotch yellow colour. All beads show sign of long wearing.

These beads are old amber imitations (Copal ?) from West Africa9

This strand of 25 old antique Copal trade beads, which were used in the African trade in the late 1800's.  These beads are in very good condition they have been collected in West Africa in the 1970th.

Old copal (amber) beads such as these have a rich history of trade & production dates to a century or more ago.

These beads float in salted water and smell pine by burning with hot needle, both sign of real amber. To certify as real Baltic amber further tests are needed. All beads show sign of long wearing, they are raw as collected at the time, depending on further use they would need some polishing.

Antique real amber beads sourced from West Africa. These beads float in salted water and smell pine by burning with hot needle, both sign of real amber. To certify as real Baltic amber further tests are needed.

Old amber beads such as these have a rich history of trade & production dates to a century or more ago.

Antique real amber beads sourced from West Africa. These beads float in salted water and smell pine by burning with hot needle, both sign of real amber. To certify as real Baltic amber further tests are needed.

Old amber beads such as these have a rich history of trade & production dates to a century or more ago.

Ten large copal beads with different colours, collected in West Africa in the 1970th.

Ten copal beads reddish colour. The measuring 24 - 28 mm in diameter

Ten beads collected in the 1970th, these are old trade beads.

Ten beads collected in the 1970th, these are old trade beads.

Antique real amber beads sourced from West Africa, this string has 63 amber beads of different shapes and sizes. Most of them in a nice butterscotch yellow colour. All beads show sign of long wearing.