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Clay Beads

  • Multicolor Patterned Mini Terracotta Beads (Loose Beads) - The Bead Chest
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    $26.00
    $26.00 - $26.00
    $26.00
    $18.00
    $18.00 - $18.00
    $18.00

    Multicolor Patterned Mini Terracotta Beads (Loose Beads)

    Out of stock

    Amazing multicolor authentic Terracotta Clay Beads. These great beads include a medley of shapes including round, bicone, cylinder, and other inter...

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    $26.00
    $26.00 - $26.00
    $26.00
    $18.00
    $18.00 - $18.00
    $18.00
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  • Multicolor Moroccan Pottery Beads - The Bead Chest
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    $21.00
    $21.00 - $21.00
    $21.00
    $18.00
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    $18.00

    Multicolor Moroccan Pottery Beads

    in stock

    This colorful medley of pottery beads is characteristic of Berber jewelry from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Individual bead sizes may vary but m...

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    $21.00
    $21.00 - $21.00
    $21.00
    $18.00
    $18.00 - $18.00
    $18.00
    Save 14% Save %
  • Deep Blue Moroccan Pottery Beads (12mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00
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    $12.00

    Deep Blue Moroccan Pottery Beads (12mm)

    Out of stock

    These deep blue pottery beads are characteristic of Berber jewelry from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Individual bead sizes may vary slightly but...

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    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
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  • Deep Blue Moroccan Pottery Beads (Cylinder) - The Bead Chest
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    $8.50
    $8.50 - $8.50
    $8.50
    $6.00
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    $6.00

    Deep Blue Moroccan Pottery Beads (Cylinder)

    in stock

    These deep blue pottery beads are characteristic of Berber jewelry from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Individual bead sizes may vary slightly but...

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    $8.50
    $8.50 - $8.50
    $8.50
    $6.00
    $6.00 - $6.00
    $6.00
    Save 29% Save %
  • Light Turquoise Moroccan Pottery Beads (12mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00
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    $12.00

    Light Turquoise Moroccan Pottery Beads (12mm)

    Out of stock

    These light turquoise color pottery beads are characteristic of Berber jewelry from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Individual bead sizes may vary ...

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    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
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  • White Moroccan Pottery Beads (Chunk) - The Bead Chest
    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00
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    $12.00

    White Moroccan Pottery Beads (Chunk)

    in stock

    These white pottery beads are characteristic of Berber jewelry from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Individual bead sizes may vary slightly but mea...

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    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00
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    $12.00
  • Rouge Red Moroccan Pottery Beads (Chunk) - The Bead Chest
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    $12.00
    $12.00
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    Rouge Red Moroccan Pottery Beads (Chunk)

    in stock

    These red pottery beads are characteristic of Berber jewelry from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Individual bead sizes may vary slightly but measu...

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    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
  • Black & White Pharaonic Pottery Beads - The Bead Chest
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    $9.00 - $9.00
    $9.00
    $9.00
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    $9.00

    Black & White Pharaonic Pottery Beads

    Out of stock

    Admire these beautiful beads sometimes referred to as pharaonic pottery beads. Handmade by skilled artisans in the North African country of Egypt, ...

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    $9.00 - $9.00
    $9.00
    $9.00
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    $9.00
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  • Natural Moroccan Pottery Beads (Chunk) - The Bead Chest
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    Natural Moroccan Pottery Beads (Chunk)

    in stock

    These yellow pottery beads are characteristic of Berber jewelry from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Individual bead sizes may vary slightly but me...

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    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
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    $12.00
  • Black Moroccan Pottery Beads (Rectangle) - The Bead Chest
    $8.50 - $8.50
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    Black Moroccan Pottery Beads (Rectangle)

    in stock

    These black pottery beads are characteristic of Berber jewelry from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Individual bead sizes may vary slightly but mea...

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    $8.50 - $8.50
    $8.50
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  • White Pharaonic Pottery Beads - The Bead Chest
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    $9.00 - $9.00
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    White Pharaonic Pottery Beads

    Out of stock

    Admire these beautiful beads sometimes referred to as pharaonic pottery beads. Handmade by skilled artisans in the North African country of Egypt, ...

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    $9.00 - $9.00
    $9.00
    $9.00
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    $9.00
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  • Turquoise Ceramic Afghani Bicone Beads (7x5mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $14.00 - $14.00
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    Turquoise Ceramic Afghani Bicone Beads (7x5mm)

    Out of stock

    Indulge your eyes in these beautiful turquoise color ceramic beads brought to you from the mountainous wilds of Afghanistan. The mineral rich lands...

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    $14.00 - $14.00
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  • Blue Pharaonic Pottery Beads - The Bead Chest
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    $9.00 - $9.00
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    Blue Pharaonic Pottery Beads

    Out of stock

    Admire these beautiful beads sometimes referred to as pharaonic pottery beads. Handmade by skilled artisans in the North African country of Egypt, ...

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    $9.00 - $9.00
    $9.00
    $9.00
    $9.00 - $9.00
    $9.00
    Sold out
  • Deep Blue Moroccan Pottery Beads (Chunk) - The Bead Chest
    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00
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    $12.00

    Deep Blue Moroccan Pottery Beads (Chunk)

    in stock

    These blue pottery beads are characteristic of Berber jewelry from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Individual bead sizes may vary slightly but meas...

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    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
  • Crimson & White Pharaonic Pottery Beads - The Bead Chest
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    $9.00 - $9.00
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    Crimson & White Pharaonic Pottery Beads

    Out of stock

    Admire these beautiful beads sometimes referred to as pharaonic pottery beads. Handmade by skilled artisans in the North African country of Egypt, ...

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    $9.00 - $9.00
    $9.00
    $9.00
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    $9.00
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  • Striped Natural Terracotta Mali Clay Medallions (17x45mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $32.00 - $32.00
    $32.00
    $32.00
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    $32.00

    Striped Natural Terracotta Mali Clay Medallions (17x45mm)

    Out of stock

    This beautiful strand of large Mali Terracotta Medallion beads is handmade with each bead individually inscribed with traditional patterns. It is ...

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    $32.00 - $32.00
    $32.00
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  • Old Large Mali Clay Spindle Beads - The Bead Chest
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    $85.00
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    $85.00
    $71.00
    $71.00 - $71.00
    $71.00

    Old Large Mali Clay Spindle Beads

    Out of stock

    This beautiful strand of Mali Spindle Whorl beads is handmade with clay and individually inscribed. It is made by the Dogon tribe of Mali. Each str...

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    $85.00
    $85.00 - $85.00
    $85.00
    $71.00
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    $71.00
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  • Old Irregular-shaped Mali Clay Spindle Beads (33x28mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $95.00
    $95.00 - $95.00
    $95.00
    $89.00
    $89.00 - $89.00
    $89.00

    Old Irregular-shaped Mali Clay Spindle Beads (33x28mm)

    Out of stock

    Admire these exceptional Mali Clay Spindle Beads. These beads derive their name from their use as a part of the traditional tool used by the people...

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    $95.00
    $95.00 - $95.00
    $95.00
    $89.00
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  • Teardrop Black Mali Clay Beads (34x26mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $45.00
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    $45.00
    $34.00
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    $34.00

    Teardrop Black Mali Clay Beads (34x26mm)

    Out of stock

    Take a look at this great strand of black colored terracotta beads from Mali. Beautifully hand crafted, each bead may show slight variation in size...

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    $45.00
    $45.00 - $45.00
    $45.00
    $34.00
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    $34.00
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  • Blue & White Pharaonic Pottery Beads - The Bead Chest
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    $9.00 - $9.00
    $9.00
    $9.00
    $9.00 - $9.00
    $9.00

    Blue & White Pharaonic Pottery Beads

    Out of stock

    Admire these beautiful beads sometimes referred to as pharaonic pottery beads. Handmade by skilled artisans in the North African country of Egypt, ...

    View full details
    $9.00 - $9.00
    $9.00
    $9.00
    $9.00 - $9.00
    $9.00
    Sold out
  • Black Moroccan Pottery Beads (Chunk) - The Bead Chest
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    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00
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    $12.00

    Black Moroccan Pottery Beads (Chunk)

    Out of stock

    These black pottery beads are characteristic of Berber jewelry from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Individual bead sizes may vary slightly but mea...

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    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
    Sold out
  • Yellow Pharaonic Pottery Beads - The Bead Chest
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    $9.00 - $9.00
    $9.00
    $9.00
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    $9.00

    Yellow Pharaonic Pottery Beads

    Out of stock

    Admire these beautiful beads sometimes referred to as pharaonic pottery beads. Handmade by skilled artisans in the North African country of Egypt, ...

    View full details
    $9.00 - $9.00
    $9.00
    $9.00
    $9.00 - $9.00
    $9.00
    Sold out
  • White Moroccan Pottery Beads (Cylinder) - The Bead Chest
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    $8.50
    $8.50 - $8.50
    $8.50
    $6.00
    $6.00 - $6.00
    $6.00

    White Moroccan Pottery Beads (Cylinder)

    Only 2 left!

    These white pottery beads are characteristic of Berber jewelry from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Individual bead sizes may vary slightly but mea...

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    $8.50
    $8.50 - $8.50
    $8.50
    $6.00
    $6.00 - $6.00
    $6.00
    Save 29% Save %
  • Black Terracotta Mali Clay Round Beads (16mm) - The Bead Chest
    $21.00 - $21.00
    $21.00
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    $21.00

    Black Terracotta Mali Clay Round Beads (16mm)

    in stock

    Amazing strand of natural color terracotta beads. Beautifully handcrafted, each of these unusual bead may show slight variation in size and pattern...

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    $21.00 - $21.00
    $21.00
    $21.00
    $21.00 - $21.00
    $21.00
African Clay Beads are among the earliest bead formats known to man, many archeological finds pre-dating the famous shell hoard of the Blombus Cave on Africa's Southern Cape by as much as 20,000 years. But while tribes in the South and West of Africa have a long affiliation with clay bead production, it is the Dogon tribes of Bandiagara in Mali who are modernly revered for their beautiful black clay creations. Distinguished by their charcoal coloration and elaborate milgrain-like detailing, Mali Clay Spindle Whorl Beads were originally intended for use as currency among trans-Saharan merchants. Their value to merchants was determined by their coloration – the darker the beads, the higher their net worth.

Clay Beads from Mali are distinguishable from other beads in Africa by their coloration. Most natural clay found in Africa is of a reddish-brown hue, however, in the cliffs of Bandiagara, it is near black. Modern crafters often manipulate the hue by adding ground ash, charcoal and the remnants of other pottery or china to the ground down clay mixture. Water, oil and tree gum are added to the mixture to help it adhere during firing, and the clay is then fashioned into a conical spindle whorl shape. Designs are carved into the surface using a hacksaw blade or shard of glass, and the beads are then fired in an open charcoal brazier. Once cool, they are immersed in a whitewash several times before they are left to dry. Excess paint is gently rubbed off using a cloth, leaving just the carved areas decorated. Red clay beads produced by the Zarma people are made using a very similar technique, but although beautiful, they aren't nearly as popular as their black counterparts.