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Gemstone beads are treasured by many. The power and symbolism of color is central to the cultures of many indigenous tribes in Africa. From the speckled whites and grays of Bauxite Beads which mark the acceptance of a newborn into Krobo society, to the deep reddish brown of Carnelian which symbolizes vitality and fertility, it's no wonder that certain stones are considered invaluable among some tribal cultures. But, African Gemstone Beads aren't just prized for their aesthetic beauty and rarity. Tribes such as the Yoruba also place great value upon certain types of gemstones owing to their former use as early currency. Through early trade routes, there was considerable influx of natural Gemstone Beads such as agate, carnelian and turquoise; stones which were often traded with Yoruban and Bedouin chiefs in exchange for furs, art and slaves.
Unsurprisingly, the collectible value of African Gemstone Beads inspired many artisans to produce counterfeit copies from other less precious materials - the Ancient Egyptians being a great example. After exhausting many of their own turquoise mines, they looked to another material with similar properties: jasper. The vast majority of African Turquoise Beads sold today are produced from this mineral. Bauxite, favored for its reddish-brown marbled appearance, was also used throughout the trade era to produce faux Carnelian Beads, and remains a popular element among native jewelry crafters today.
These natural beads are made using dried lava, formed from molten rock originating from a volcano eruption. They come in a variety of shapes and si...
View full detailsThese natural beads are made using dried lava! Lava is a form of molten rock that originates from volcano eruptions. We offer these fun beads a lar...
View full detailsAdmire these beautiful raw gemstone beads made from rough Tiger's Eye. Tiger's eye is known for its golden color and silky luster. Stone for such b...
View full detailsTake a look at these hand-patterned Tibetan agate beads. The special character of this stone bead is apparent by the unique translucence of the bea...
View full detailsTake a look at these hand-patterned Tibetan agate beads. The special character of this stone bead is apparent by the unique translucence of the bea...
View full detailsTake a moment to admire the beautiful intricateness of these artisan White Howlite beads. Howlite can be found in places like Nova Scotia and the m...
View full detailsThese chic Amethyst Beads will bring unique texture and color to your next design project. Each strand comes with a variation of carved round and o...
View full detailsThese rustic quartz beads are said to have been hand-cut and bow-drilled by Dogon tribesmen ages ago. While today such production methods are consi...
View full detailsTake a look at this incredible strand of faceted carnelian beads from Nigeria. Individual beads measure 16-25mm long by 12-20mm in diameter. The vi...
View full detailsCheck out this amazing strand of stone beads made of authentic turquoise. This brilliant and unique color will add an unmistakable accent to your j...
View full detailsAdmire this beautiful strand of Serpentine Stone Beads from Mali West Africa. Beads such as these have been prized for their unique color since Neo...
View full detailsThese stone beads are said to be centuries old because they seem to have been made in a very primitive way. This strand of African beads measures ...
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