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Bone Beads

  • Original price $16.00
    Original price $16.00 - Original price $16.00
    Original price $16.00
    Current price $9.00
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    Current price $9.00

    Adjoined Copper-Inlaid Beige Bone Mala Beads (8mm)

    Only 1 left!

    Take a look at this beautiful strand of handmade prayer beads made from bone, inlaid with copper, and strung as a 108-bead Mala. Each long strand i...

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    Original price $16.00
    Original price $16.00 - Original price $16.00
    Original price $16.00
    Current price $9.00
    $9.00 - $9.00
    Current price $9.00
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  • Original price $12.00 - Original price $12.00
    Original price $12.00
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    Current price $12.00

    Tan Nigerian Camel Bone Beads (Disk)

    in stock

    These rustic beads are said to be made using recycled camel bone. Each bead is hand-carved into its initial shape. Some are then patterned through...

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    Original price $12.00 - Original price $12.00
    Original price $12.00
    $12.00
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    Current price $12.00
  • Original price $14.00 - Original price $14.00
    Original price $14.00
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    Beige Carved Chevron Bone Mala Beads (6mm)

    in stock

    Admire this unique strand of bone mala beads from Nepal. Each bead has been individual carved with a chevron design and measures approximately 6-7m...

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    Original price $14.00 - Original price $14.00
    Original price $14.00
    $14.00
    $14.00 - $14.00
    Current price $14.00
  • Original price $24.00 - Original price $24.00
    Original price $24.00
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    Brown Himalayan Bone Saucer Beads (14mm)

    in stock

    This strand of rustic bone saucer beads comes from Nepal. Pay attention and you will notice that each bead is 100% unique and has its own character...

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    Original price $24.00 - Original price $24.00
    Original price $24.00
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    Current price $24.00
  • Original price $14.00 - Original price $14.00
    Original price $14.00
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    Brown Bone Button Beads (10mm)

    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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    Original price $14.00 - Original price $14.00
    Original price $14.00
    $14.00
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    Current price $14.00
  • Original price $25.00 - Original price $25.00
    Original price $25.00
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    Black Kenya Bone Beads (Faceted)

    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 mo...

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    Original price $25.00 - Original price $25.00
    Original price $25.00
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  • Original price $16.00 - Original price $16.00
    Original price $16.00
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    Brown Rustic Bone Mala Beads (10mm)

    Only 10 left!

    This strand of rustic brown bone beads comes from Nepal. Pay attention and you will notice that each bead is 100% unique and has its own character....

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    Original price $16.00 - Original price $16.00
    Original price $16.00
    $16.00
    $16.00 - $16.00
    Current price $16.00
  • Original price $24.50 - Original price $24.50
    Original price $24.50
    $24.50
    $24.50 - $24.50
    Current price $24.50

    Beige Carved Chevron Bone Prayer Beads (8mm)

    Only 4 left!

    Admire this unique strand of beige bone prayer beads. Each bead has been individual carved with a chevron design and measures approximately 6mm wid...

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    Original price $24.50 - Original price $24.50
    Original price $24.50
    $24.50
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    Current price $24.50
  • Original price $12.00 - Original price $12.00
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    Antiqued Nigerian Camel Bone Beads (Tube)

    Only 4 left!

    These rustic beads are said to be made using recycled camel bone. Each bead is hand-carved into its initial shape. Some are then patterned through...

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    Original price $12.00 - Original price $12.00
    Original price $12.00
    $12.00
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    Current price $12.00
  • Original price $8.00 - Original price $8.00
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    Brown 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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    Original price $8.00 - Original price $8.00
    Original price $8.00
    $8.00
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    Current price $8.00
  • Original price $18.50 - Original price $18.50
    Original price $18.50
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    Kenya Light Brown Bone Beads (Medium)

    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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    Original price $18.50 - Original price $18.50
    Original price $18.50
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  • Original price $14.00 - Original price $14.00
    Original price $14.00
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    Current price $14.00

    Cream Carved Chevron Bone Mala Beads (6mm)

    in stock

    Admire this unique strand of bone mala beads from Nepal. Each bead has been individual carved with a chevron design and measures approximately 5 x ...

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    Original price $14.00 - Original price $14.00
    Original price $14.00
    $14.00
    $14.00 - $14.00
    Current price $14.00
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    Original price $14.00
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    Tan Carved Chevron Bone Mala Beads (6mm)

    in stock

    Admire this unique strand of bone mala beads from Nepal. Each bead has been individual carved with a chevron design and measures approximately 5 x ...

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    Original price $14.00 - Original price $14.00
    Original price $14.00
    $14.00
    $14.00 - $14.00
    Current price $14.00
  • Original price $9.00 - Original price $9.00
    Original price $9.00
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    Current price $9.00

    Brown Nigerian Camel Bone Beads (Tube)

    in stock

    These rustic beads are said to be made using recycled camel bone. Each bead is hand-carved into its initial shape. Some are then patterned through...

    View full details
    Original price $9.00 - Original price $9.00
    Original price $9.00
    $9.00
    $9.00 - $9.00
    Current price $9.00
  • Original price $22.50 - Original price $22.50
    Original price $22.50
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    Carved Watermelon Brown Bone Beads (Large)

    in stock

    Admire this beautiful strand of carved brown bone beads from Kenya. East African bone beads are handcrafted by artisans using recycled cow bone. Ea...

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    Original price $22.50 - Original price $22.50
    Original price $22.50
    $22.50
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    Current price $22.50
  • Original price $10.00 - Original price $10.00
    Original price $10.00
    $10.00
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    Current price $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...

    View full details
    Original price $10.00 - Original price $10.00
    Original price $10.00
    $10.00
    $10.00 - $10.00
    Current price $10.00
  • Original price $12.00 - Original price $12.00
    Original price $12.00
    $12.00
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    Current price $12.00

    Brown Rustic Bone Mala Beads (6mm)

    in stock

    This strand of rustic brown bone beads comes from Nepal. Pay attention and you will notice that each bead is 100% unique and has its own character....

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    Original price $12.00 - Original price $12.00
    Original price $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00 - $12.00
    Current price $12.00
  • Original price $24.50
    Original price $24.50 - Original price $24.50
    Original price $24.50
    Current price $14.00
    $14.00 - $14.00
    Current price $14.00

    Copper-Inlaid Rustic Bone Mala Beads (6mm)

    in stock

    Take a look at this beautiful strand of handmade prayer beads made from bone, inlaid with copper, and strung as a 108-bead mala. Each long strand i...

    View full details
    Original price $24.50
    Original price $24.50 - Original price $24.50
    Original price $24.50
    Current price $14.00
    $14.00 - $14.00
    Current price $14.00
    Save 43% Save %
  • Original price $18.00
    Original price $18.00 - Original price $18.00
    Original price $18.00
    Current price $12.00
    $12.00 - $12.00
    Current price $12.00

    Dark Brown Mala Bone Beads (10mm)

    in stock

    These high quality Malas each contain 108 rustic beads made of recycled bone. Each bead measures approximately 8 x 10-11mm, with a hole size of 2mm...

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    Original price $18.00
    Original price $18.00 - Original price $18.00
    Original price $18.00
    Current price $12.00
    $12.00 - $12.00
    Current price $12.00
    Save 33% Save %
  • Original price $10.00 - Original price $10.00
    Original price $10.00
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    Current price $10.00

    Tan Nigerian Camel Bone Beads (Tube)

    in stock

    These rustic beads are said to be made using recycled camel bone. Each bead is hand-carved into its initial shape. Some are then patterned through...

    View full details
    Original price $10.00 - Original price $10.00
    Original price $10.00
    $10.00
    $10.00 - $10.00
    Current price $10.00
  • Original price $21.50 - Original price $21.50
    Original price $21.50
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    Current price $21.50

    Rustic Inlaid Yak Bone Mala Beads (6mm)

    in stock

    Admire this special strand of handmade mala beads made from yak horn. Each little bead has been inlaid with either brass, silver, or copper and tur...

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    Original price $21.50 - Original price $21.50
    Original price $21.50
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    Current price $21.50
  • Original price $22.50 - Original price $22.50
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    Brown Carved Disk Bone Mala Beads (14mm)

    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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    Original price $22.50 - Original price $22.50
    Original price $22.50
    $22.50
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    Current price $22.50
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    Rustic Light Brown Round Bone Mala Beads (8mm)

    in stock

    Take a look at this great strand of bone beads fashioned in a round shape. Each strand is 29" inches long with approximately 108 beads measuring 5-...

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    Original price $14.00 - Original price $14.00
    Original price $14.00
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    Current price $14.00
  • Original price $22.50 - Original price $22.50
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    Current price $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...

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    Original price $22.50 - Original price $22.50
    Original price $22.50
    $22.50
    $22.50 - $22.50
    Current price $22.50
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.