East Africa, East Africa, Moçambique(?), glass beads, four strings of light and dark blue, 54, 60, 62 and 65mm in length (Quiggin pp.83-4, 102) [4]. Good condition (£80-100)

Plate II.

The glass beads brought to Africa by Arabs for trading are thought to have been of Venetian origin. Normally blue or red but known in other colours, they quickly became current alongside cowries, hoes and other forms of currency