An amazing and very rare collection of 44 beautifully worn/patinated antique Berber shell beads. These would have been used in treasure necklaces. Possibly 19th century. Shells measure from 2.5cms to 4cms. On researching these I came across some similar - of the earliest shell beads found in a cave in Morocco, the earliest human adornment, repositories of group identity that indicated where/how certain people belonged. These shells had meaning, Berber signs and symbols have ancient roots. 211grams