Kiffa Powder Glass Beaded Necklace Mauritanian

Kiffa beads, a unique type of powder glass beads originating from the Mauritanian city of Kiffa, were first documented in 1949. Crafted with exceptional artistic skill, these beads use basic materials like pulverized European glass beads, bottle glass, and tin cans, demonstrating creativity with minimal tools. Though the name "Kiffa bead" was coined in the 1980s, the practice of making powder glass beads in West Africa likely dates back several centuries, possibly to 1200 CE. They were used as hair adornments by Kiffa women. Nobody is really certain of the age of this period of Kiffa bead making. Most of the experts in this field date it to the early 1900s through to the 1940s. Traditional Kiffa beads were individually produced by hand, with a central core made out of various materials. This core was 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 were 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. The semi-finished beads were then "cooked" over outdoor open fires until the powdered glass fused.

Despite the absence of archaeological evidence for their age, the tradition faced a decline in the 1970s, with the last traditional beadmakers passing away. However, organized groups of women revived the craft in the 1990s, maintaining traditional methods. Despite these efforts, the quality of the new beads hasn't matched the standards of the old ones. Modern attempts and imitations from Western artists or other countries fall short of capturing the beauty of the original Kiffa beads. By the end of the 20th century, the secrets of this traditional process had been lost.

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