they are modelled from some sort of clay and coloured with various strong colours, particularly for the effect of Amber, Turquoise, or Coral...

Very popular in various North African countries in the 1990's. Tunisia as well as Morocco.
.

Thank you, Stefany and Carole for your answers (I already thought so). Better then the no-nonsense answers I got in Morocco about the origine of the "blue stones".

Picture 1: Moulay Idriss with the green roofs of the mosque, holy city for moslims.

Picture 2: I bought this strand in Tiznit because of the green 'antique' ones, which later seemed to be not old, they are from India (with thanks to Uwe for his explanation)

Also surprised to see two Ghanese Akoso (yellow) beads in the strand.

Hans, you're right. After living for almost 3 years in Ghana for me these beads are a little bit common, but of course they are still nice! And beads are always travelling over the whole African continent, so you can aspect them in Morocco. And for the mille fiori
and fancy beads you have a better chance finding them in Ghana.

Picture 1: Desert storm at Merzouga (about 25 kilometres from the Algeria border)

Picture 2: two brass beads; I bought them from a trader near the Todra valley. I wonder if they are from Morocco. Maybe people could not effort using silver beads and therefore they used these??? One of you any idea about it?

The metal beads are very cool and I would be interested as well about origin. For me they look more like a metal mixture with much copper...!?

I enjoyed my first sand storm much, years ago on my back from West-Sahara...like swirling fog in yellow and orange...

This strand I bought in the silver souk in Tiznit. Most of my interest went to the one with the white background. I had the idea this was a special one. Please your comment!

Nel

From Abdelhak or Lahcen? I often buy much poorer strands just because of one bead like this white based fancy...I real good find!

Uw, I did'nt buy the strand from Abdelhak (the strand I bought there was that with the green ones from India/Indonesia (?)). I have no name of the shop/owner (always difficult in Morocco). Yust can tell you it was a shop in the same silver souk, close to Abdelhak/Arkhaoui

Nel

Chefchaouen

Picture 1: at the big square, just before the Friday prayer in the mosque

Picture 2: Bedouin silver from Tiznit.
These are embossed dangles, officially on a Moroccan Earring. The sheets of silver are decorated first and then worked into conical pendants. With thanks to Sigrid van Roode (Holland) who gave a course in Desert Silver last winter in Leiden (Holland). She also has written an interesting book, called Desert Silver (KIT Publishers, ISBN 978-9460220470)

Aït Benhaddou and resin amber

Picture 1: For four days this was our view when sunset was coming over the ksar of Aït Benhaddou

Picture 2: Of course you will see a lot of "amber" in Morocco. I think the amber on picture two is resin amber or fake? This picture is from the weekly souk near Agdz

Asilah and turquoise

Picture 1: during our visit I saw this lonely man in Asilah. I think the painted door is matching with the "turquoise" beads

Picture 2: the man where I bought this beads in Tafraoute has cut them from a strand with really ugly plastic ones. I selected them in three parts and should like to have comment upon the quality and/or authenticity because I have no idea. I think the ones on the left are dyed.

My last pictures from Morocco (for the time being). Hope you enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to get support/ID about some of the beads!

Picture 1: Camels (dromedaries) with their driver

Picture 2: Bedouin silver beads (from Ouarzazate)

Nice beads...haven´t seen this version in oval shape and decorated before...and I like camel tagine... :-)
Thank you Nel for this great report! I hope I will find the time in future for more traveling around in Morocco (and Mauritania and Mali are still on my list...)

Hi Nel,

I can´t help you out with the beads, Morocco is one of the places to go to soon thanks to your pictures and the ones from Uwe and Sarah.

All the best,
Hendrik

Yes Hendrik, that's a very good idea, and do'nt wait too long to go. The landscape will not change so much (I hope so) but finding interesting beads will become more difficult.

Nel

Thank you for these pictures, they're great!