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Clay Beads

  • Round Black Mali Clay Beads (24mm) - The Bead Chest
    Sold out
    $45.00
    $45.00 - $45.00
    $45.00
    $35.00
    $35.00 - $35.00
    $35.00

    Round Black Mali Clay Beads (24mm)

    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
    $35.00
    $35.00 - $35.00
    $35.00
    Sold out
  • Natural Terracotta Mali Cllay Oval Beads (18x10mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00

    Natural Terracotta Mali Cllay Oval Beads (18x10mm)

    Out of stock

    Amazing strand of natural terracotta beads. Beautifully handcrafted, each unique bead may show slight variation in size and pattern however, the si...

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    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
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  • Aqua Blue Moroccan Pottery Beads (Nugget) - The Bead Chest
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    $14.00
    $14.00 - $14.00
    $14.00
    $5.00
    $5.00 - $5.00
    $5.00

    Aqua Blue Moroccan Pottery Beads (Nugget)

    Out of stock

    These aqua blue nugget-shaped pottery beads are characteristic of Berber jewelry from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Individual bead sizes may var...

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    $14.00
    $14.00 - $14.00
    $14.00
    $5.00
    $5.00 - $5.00
    $5.00
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  • Clay Buddha Beads with Gold Leaf (24mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $95.00
    $95.00 - $95.00
    $95.00
    $87.00
    $87.00 - $87.00
    $87.00

    Clay Buddha Beads with Gold Leaf (24mm)

    Only 1 left!

    These unusual beads are a traditional craft of Southeast Asia. Look carefully and you will see that each handmade bead has been decorated with a st...

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    $95.00
    $95.00 - $95.00
    $95.00
    $87.00
    $87.00 - $87.00
    $87.00
    Save 8% Save %
  • Multicolor Patterned Terracotta Beads (Loose Beads) - The Bead Chest
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    $29.00
    $29.00 - $29.00
    $29.00
    $21.00
    $21.00 - $21.00
    $21.00

    Multicolor Patterned Terracotta Beads (Loose Beads)

    Out of stock

    Amazing multicolor strand of whimsical Terracotta Clay Beads from Ghana. These great strands include a medley of shapes including round, bicone, cy...

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    $29.00
    $29.00 - $29.00
    $29.00
    $21.00
    $21.00 - $21.00
    $21.00
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  • Black Moroccan Pottery Beads (Barrel) - The Bead Chest
    $16.00 - $16.00
    $16.00
    $16.00
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    $16.00

    Black Moroccan Pottery Beads (Barrel)

    Only 2 left!

    These Moroccan pottery beads are characteristic of Berber jewelry from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Each bead measures approximately 24-26 x 15-...

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    $16.00 - $16.00
    $16.00
    $16.00
    $16.00 - $16.00
    $16.00
  • Rouge Red Moroccan Pottery Beads (Barrel) - The Bead Chest
    $16.00 - $16.00
    $16.00
    $16.00
    $16.00 - $16.00
    $16.00

    Rouge Red Moroccan Pottery Beads (Barrel)

    Only 7 left!

    These Moroccan pottery beads are characteristic of Berber jewelry from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Each bead measures approximately 25-26 x 18m...

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    $16.00 - $16.00
    $16.00
    $16.00
    $16.00 - $16.00
    $16.00
  • Jumbo Clay Buddha Mala Beads with Gold Leaf (28mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $149.00 - $149.00
    $149.00
    $149.00
    $149.00 - $149.00
    $149.00

    Jumbo Clay Buddha Mala Beads with Gold Leaf (28mm)

    Out of stock

    These unusual beads are a traditional craft of Southeast Asia. Look carefully and you will see that each handmade bead has been decorated with a st...

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    $149.00 - $149.00
    $149.00
    $149.00
    $149.00 - $149.00
    $149.00
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  • Vintage Turquoise Ceramic & Glass Beads - The Bead Chest
    $22.50 - $22.50
    $22.50
    $22.50
    $22.50 - $22.50
    $22.50

    Vintage Turquoise Ceramic & Glass Beads

    in stock

    Admire this beautiful medley of striped indented beads in a beautiful turquoise color. Each medley includes a combination of larger turquoise ceram...

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    $22.50 - $22.50
    $22.50
    $22.50
    $22.50 - $22.50
    $22.50
  • Natural Terracotta Round Mali Clay Beads (15mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $18.00 - $18.00
    $18.00
    $18.00
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    $18.00

    Natural Terracotta Round Mali Clay Beads (15mm)

    Out of stock

    Take a look at this strand of tan diamond criss cross patterned terracotta Mali clay beads. Beautifully hand crafted, each bead may show slight var...

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    $18.00 - $18.00
    $18.00
    $18.00
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    $18.00
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  • Natural Terracotta Round Mali Clay Beads (12mm) - The Bead Chest
    $16.00 - $16.00
    $16.00
    $16.00
    $16.00 - $16.00
    $16.00

    Natural Terracotta Round Mali Clay Beads (12mm)

    in stock

    Take a look at this strand of these tan circle and dot patterned terracotta Mali clay beads. Beautifully hand crafted, each bead may show slight va...

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    $16.00 - $16.00
    $16.00
    $16.00
    $16.00 - $16.00
    $16.00
  • Black Terracotta Round Mali Clay Beads (12mm) - The Bead Chest
    $16.00 - $16.00
    $16.00
    $16.00
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    $16.00

    Black Terracotta Round Mali Clay Beads (12mm)

    in stock

    Take a look at this strand of black circle patterned terracotta Mali clay beads. Beautifully hand crafted, each bead may show slight variation in s...

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    $16.00 - $16.00
    $16.00
    $16.00
    $16.00 - $16.00
    $16.00
  • Black Terracotta Round Mali Clay Beads (10mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $14.00 - $14.00
    $14.00
    $14.00
    $14.00 - $14.00
    $14.00

    Black Terracotta Round Mali Clay Beads (10mm)

    Out of stock

    Take a look at this strand of black circle and dot patterned terracotta Mali clay beads. Beautifully hand crafted, each bead may show slight variat...

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    $14.00 - $14.00
    $14.00
    $14.00
    $14.00 - $14.00
    $14.00
    Sold out
  • Black Terracotta Round Mali Clay Beads (8mm) - The Bead Chest
    $14.00 - $14.00
    $14.00
    $14.00
    $14.00 - $14.00
    $14.00

    Black Terracotta Round Mali Clay Beads (8mm)

    in stock

    Take a look at this strand of black circle and dot patterned terracotta Mali clay beads. Beautifully hand crafted, each bead may show slight variat...

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    $14.00 - $14.00
    $14.00
    $14.00
    $14.00 - $14.00
    $14.00
  • Natural Terracotta Round Mali Clay Beads (10mm) - The Bead Chest
    $14.00 - $14.00
    $14.00
    $14.00
    $14.00 - $14.00
    $14.00

    Natural Terracotta Round Mali Clay Beads (10mm)

    in stock

    Take a look at this strand of these tan circle and dot patterned terracotta Mali clay beads. Beautifully hand crafted, each bead may show slight va...

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    $14.00 - $14.00
    $14.00
    $14.00
    $14.00 - $14.00
    $14.00
  • Natural Terracotta Round Mali Clay Beads (8mm) - The Bead Chest
    Sold out
    $14.00 - $14.00
    $14.00
    $14.00
    $14.00 - $14.00
    $14.00

    Natural Terracotta Round Mali Clay Beads (8mm)

    Out of stock

    Take a look at this strand of these tan circle and dot patterned terracotta Mali clay beads. Beautifully hand crafted, each bead may show slight va...

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    $14.00 - $14.00
    $14.00
    $14.00
    $14.00 - $14.00
    $14.00
    Sold out
  • Tribal Design Bicone Black Mali Clay Beads (20mm) - The Bead Chest
    $65.00 - $65.00
    $65.00
    $65.00
    $65.00 - $65.00
    $65.00

    Tribal Design Bicone Black Mali Clay Beads (20mm)

    in 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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    $65.00 - $65.00
    $65.00
    $65.00
    $65.00 - $65.00
    $65.00
  • Criss Cross Design Bicone Black Mali Clay Beads (22mm) - The Bead Chest
    $65.00 - $65.00
    $65.00
    $65.00
    $65.00 - $65.00
    $65.00

    Criss Cross Design Bicone Black Mali Clay Beads (22mm)

    in stock

    Take a look at this great strand of black colored terracotta beads from Mali. Beautifully hand crafted and textured, each unique bead may show slig...

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    $65.00 - $65.00
    $65.00
    $65.00
    $65.00 - $65.00
    $65.00
  • Clay Red Natural Round Seed Beads (8mm) - The Bead Chest
    $6.00 - $6.00
    $6.00
    $6.00
    $6.00 - $6.00
    $6.00

    Clay Red Natural Round Seed Beads (8mm)

    in stock

    These striking beads are handmade using salvaged palm tree seeds. The slight variations in colors and shape of the beads will make them a fun addit...

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    $6.00 - $6.00
    $6.00
    $6.00
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    $6.00
  • Mali Clay Beads - The Bead Chest
    $3.99 - $3.99
    $3.99
    $3.99
    $3.99 - $3.99
    $3.99

    Mali Clay Beads

    in stock

    With their rich, earthy terracotta and brown tones, these tiny 3mm Mali Clay Beads are extremely versatile for 'nature' and 'eco' inspired projects...

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    $3.99 - $3.99
    $3.99
    $3.99
    $3.99 - $3.99
    $3.99
  • Super Jumbo Nigerian Clay Spindle Beads (48mm) - The Bead Chest
    $249.00 - $249.00
    $249.00
    $249.00
    $249.00 - $249.00
    $249.00

    Super Jumbo Nigerian Clay Spindle Beads (48mm)

    Only 3 left!

    This beautiful strand of Nigerian Spindle Whorl beads is handmade with clay and individually inscribed. These strands are exceptionally large and m...

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    $249.00 - $249.00
    $249.00
    $249.00
    $249.00 - $249.00
    $249.00
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.