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Bone Beads

  • White Bone Beads (Large) - The Bead Chest
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    $24.99
    $24.99 - $24.99
    $24.99
    $22.50
    $22.50 - $22.50
    $22.50

    White Bone Beads (Large)

    in stock

    Checkout these beautiful White Bone from Kenya, Africa! The strand is approximately 26" long, and each bead is about 23-28mm in diameter. Due to th...

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    $24.99
    $24.99 - $24.99
    $24.99
    $22.50
    $22.50 - $22.50
    $22.50
    Save 10% Save %
  • White Bone Beads (Saucer) - The Bead Chest
    $30.00 - $30.00
    $30.00
    $30.00
    $30.00 - $30.00
    $30.00

    White Bone Beads (Saucer)

    in stock

    These white bone saucer beads are handcrafted in a fair trade workshop in central Kenya. Each bead is 100% unique and one-of-a-kind. Beads measure ...

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    $30.00 - $30.00
    $30.00
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    $30.00 - $30.00
    $30.00
  • White Carved Disk Bone Mala Beads (13mm) - The Bead Chest
    $22.50 - $22.50
    $22.50
    $22.50
    $22.50 - $22.50
    $22.50

    White Carved Disk Bone Mala Beads (13mm)

    in stock

    Take a look at this beautiful strand of bone Mala beads fashioned in a special disk shape. Each of these bone beads was hand carved out of reclaime...

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    $22.50 - $22.50
    $22.50
    $22.50
    $22.50 - $22.50
    $22.50
  • White Bone Beads (Faceted) - The Bead Chest
    $29.00 - $29.00
    $29.00
    $29.00
    $29.00 - $29.00
    $29.00

    White Bone Beads (Faceted)

    in stock

    Take a look at this unusual strand of faceted white bone beads from Kenya, Africa! Faceted bone beads such as these are difficult to find and the f...

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    $29.00 - $29.00
    $29.00
    $29.00
    $29.00 - $29.00
    $29.00
  • Watermelon Carved Bone Beads (Large) - The Bead Chest
    $22.50 - $22.50
    $22.50
    $22.50
    $22.50 - $22.50
    $22.50

    Watermelon Carved Bone Beads (Large)

    in stock

    Admire this beautiful strand of bone beads from Kenya. East African bone beads are handcrafted by artisans using recycled cow bone. Each bead is in...

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    $22.50 - $22.50
    $22.50
    $22.50
    $22.50 - $22.50
    $22.50
  • Carved X Design Bone Beads (Barrel) - The Bead Chest
    $25.00 - $25.00
    $25.00
    $25.00
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    $25.00

    Carved X Design Bone Beads (Barrel)

    in stock

    Admire this unusual strand of bone beads from Kenya. While Kenyan bone beads are common in a variety of shapes and styles, these beads come in a ha...

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    $25.00 - $25.00
    $25.00
    $25.00
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    $25.00
  • Chevron Batik Bone Beads (Small) - The Bead Chest
    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00
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    $12.00

    Chevron Batik Bone Beads (Small)

    in stock

    Checkout these beautiful small bone batik from Africa! They are hand dyed beads from Kenya, Africa. The dying method is known as "batik", which is ...

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    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
  • Rustic Grey Bone Button Beads (6mm) - The Bead Chest
    $8.00 - $8.00
    $8.00
    $8.00
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    $8.00

    Rustic Grey Bone Button Beads (6mm)

    in stock

    These natural beads are handcrafted by artisans in the Nepal countryside using recycled bone. The beads are in a special disk shape and resemble bu...

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    $8.00 - $8.00
    $8.00
    $8.00
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  • Polished Kenya White Bone Beads (Large) - The Bead Chest
    $22.50 - $22.50
    $22.50
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    Polished Kenya White Bone Beads (Large)

    in stock

    Admire this beautiful strand of white bone beads from Kenya. These beads are similar to our other large white bone beads, except these have a sligh...

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    $22.50 - $22.50
    $22.50
    $22.50
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    $22.50
  • Kenya Coral Bone Beads (Large) - The Bead Chest
    $25.00 - $25.00
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    Kenya Coral Bone Beads (Large)

    in stock

    Admire this beautiful strand of bone beads from Kenya. East African bone beads are handcrafted by artisans using recycled cow bone. Each bead is in...

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    $25.00 - $25.00
    $25.00
    $25.00
    $25.00 - $25.00
    $25.00
  • Grey Bone Beads (Sphere) - The Bead Chest
    $26.50 - $26.50
    $26.50
    $26.50
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    $26.50

    Grey Bone Beads (Sphere)

    in stock

    Admire this beautiful strand of bone beads from Kenya. While Kenyan bone beads are common in a variety of shapes and styles, these beads come in a ...

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    $26.50 - $26.50
    $26.50
    $26.50
    $26.50 - $26.50
    $26.50
  • Swirl Design Batik Bone Beads (Circular) - The Bead Chest
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    $16.50
    $16.50 - $16.50
    $16.50
    $10.00
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    $10.00

    Swirl Design Batik Bone Beads (Circular)

    in stock

    These beads are made of bone and come from Kenya, Africa. The design is created through a dying method known as "batik", which is a wax relief pro...

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    $16.50
    $16.50 - $16.50
    $16.50
    $10.00
    $10.00 - $10.00
    $10.00
    Save 39% Save %
  • Brown Bone Button Beads (6mm) - The Bead Chest
    $8.00 - $8.00
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    Brown Bone Button Beads (6mm)

    Only 4 left!

    These natural beads are handcrafted by artisans in the Nepal countryside using recycled bone. The beads are in a special disk shape and resemble bu...

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    $8.00 - $8.00
    $8.00
    $8.00
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  • White Bone Mala Beads (8mm) - The Bead Chest
    Save 14% Save %
    $14.00
    $14.00 - $14.00
    $14.00
    $12.00
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    $12.00

    White Bone Mala Beads (8mm)

    in stock

    These high quality Malas each contain 108 rustic beads made of recycled bone. Each bead measures approximately 6-7 x 8-9mm, with a hole size of 2mm...

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    $14.00
    $14.00 - $14.00
    $14.00
    $12.00
    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
    Save 14% Save %
  • Swirl Design Batik Bone Beads (Small) - The Bead Chest
    Save 15% Save %
    $12.00
    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
    $10.20
    $10.20 - $10.20
    $10.20

    Swirl Design Batik Bone Beads (Small)

    in stock

    Checkout these beautiful large bone batik from Africa! They are hand dyed beads from Kenya, Africa. The dying method is known as "batik", which is...

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    $12.00
    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
    $10.20
    $10.20 - $10.20
    $10.20
    Save 15% Save %
  • Tribal Carved Bone Beads (Large) - The Bead Chest
    $22.50 - $22.50
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    $22.50

    Tribal Carved Bone Beads (Large)

    in stock

    Admire this beautiful strand of bone beads from Kenya. East African bone beads are handcrafted by artisans using recycled cow bone. Each bead is in...

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    $22.50 - $22.50
    $22.50
    $22.50
    $22.50 - $22.50
    $22.50
  • White Bone Beads (Small) - The Bead Chest
    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00

    White Bone Beads (Small)

    in stock

    Checkout these beautiful small white bone beads from Africa! Each strand is approximately 23" long, and the beads measure about 8*12mm in length. ...

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    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
  • Chevron Design Batik Bone Beads (Large) - The Bead Chest
    $22.99 - $22.99
    $22.99
    $22.99
    $22.99 - $22.99
    $22.99

    Chevron Design Batik Bone Beads (Large)

    in stock

    Checkout these beautiful large bone batik from Africa! They are hand dyed beads from Kenya, Africa. The dying method is known as "batik", which is ...

    View full details
    $22.99 - $22.99
    $22.99
    $22.99
    $22.99 - $22.99
    $22.99
  • White Bone Beads (Sphere) - The Bead Chest
    $26.50 - $26.50
    $26.50
    $26.50
    $26.50 - $26.50
    $26.50

    White Bone Beads (Sphere)

    in stock

    Admire this unusual strand of bone beads from Kenya. While Kenyan bone beads are common in a variety of shapes and styles, these beads come in a ha...

    View full details
    $26.50 - $26.50
    $26.50
    $26.50
    $26.50 - $26.50
    $26.50
  • Striped Batik Bone Beads (Small) - The Bead Chest
    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
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    $12.00

    Striped Batik Bone Beads (Small)

    in stock

    Checkout these beautiful small bone batik from Africa! They are hand dyed beads from Kenya, Africa. The dying method is known as "batik", which is ...

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    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
  • Brown Bone Button Beads (8mm) - The Bead Chest
    $10.00 - $10.00
    $10.00
    $10.00
    $10.00 - $10.00
    $10.00

    Brown Bone Button Beads (8mm)

    in stock

    These natural beads are handcrafted by artisans in the Nepal countryside using recycled bone. The beads are in a special disk shape and resemble bu...

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    $10.00 - $10.00
    $10.00
    $10.00
    $10.00 - $10.00
    $10.00
  • Black Bone Mala Beads (8mm) - The Bead Chest
    Save 29% Save %
    $14.00
    $14.00 - $14.00
    $14.00
    $10.00
    $10.00 - $10.00
    $10.00

    Black Bone Mala Beads (8mm)

    in stock

    These high quality Malas each contain 108 rustic beads made of recycled bone. Each bead measures approximately 6-7 x 8-9mm, with a hole size of 2mm...

    View full details
    $14.00
    $14.00 - $14.00
    $14.00
    $10.00
    $10.00 - $10.00
    $10.00
    Save 29% Save %
  • Beige Carved Disk Bone Mala Beads (13mm) - The Bead Chest
    $22.50 - $22.50
    $22.50
    $22.50
    $22.50 - $22.50
    $22.50

    Beige Carved Disk Bone Mala Beads (13mm)

    in stock

    Take a look at this beautiful strand of bone mala beads fashioned in a special disk shape. Each of these bone beads was hand carved out of reclaime...

    View full details
    $22.50 - $22.50
    $22.50
    $22.50
    $22.50 - $22.50
    $22.50
  • White Bone Beads (Barrel) - The Bead Chest
    $25.00 - $25.00
    $25.00
    $25.00
    $25.00 - $25.00
    $25.00

    White Bone Beads (Barrel)

    in stock

    Admire this unusual strand of bone beads from Kenya. While Kenyan bone beads are common in a variety of shapes and styles, these beads come in a ha...

    View full details
    $25.00 - $25.00
    $25.00
    $25.00
    $25.00 - $25.00
    $25.00
African bone beads come from Ghana, Africa.  The design on the black and white bone beads is created through a dying method known as "batik", which is a wax relief process.  These African beads are strung on raffia and worn as is, but many beaders use these beads as the highlight of their creation.

Natural Bone Beads from Africa

Bone beads have a long history on the African continent. Bone is one of several natural materials that have been available in Africa for millennia including wood, stone, and clay. Bone beads have been made throughout the African continent including East, West, and even South Africa. Historically, bone beads may be made from any number of bone sources including ivory from different kinds of animal tusks or antlers. Other natural materials similar to bone used to make beads include horn, ostrich eggshells, marine and freshwater seashells such as clams, and also coral. Bone is unique among bead making materials due to both its strength and because it can be carved by hand and polished into many different shapes and sizes. Bone is also relatively lighter than similar size beads made from glass or metal.

One of the best-known varieties of bone beads is the Mudcloth Bone Batik from East Africa. Kenya in particular is a major producer of Batik Bone Beads. These beads are usually made from Cow or Water Buffalo bone that is first bleached and then patterned. Patterning is achieved by a special method where wax is used to apply a dye based on any one of a number of traditional geometric patterns. These designs may include stripes, dots, swirls, and other decorative motifs. Because each bead is individually patterned, this gives each piece a unique flair. The variety of different Bone Batik design styles makes these beads a versatile addition to any bead or jewelry designer’s bead chest and adds a great natural touch to any project.

Another type of bone bead that is made in Africa is the Snake Vertebrae bead. Believe or not, these beads are actually made from real snakes! Such vertebrae may be the inspiration for other Snake beads that have been made with glass that capture the same characteristic interlocking shape of real vertebrae. Such beads can be a lot of fun to work with. Likewise, fish vertebrae that tend to be more cylindrical and have also been used to make African Beads. Fish Vertebrae beads are amazingly light to wear and can be integrated into many artistic beaded pieces.