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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.
Garnet gets it name from the Latin word malogranatum which means pomegranate. In ancient times it was believed that Garnet was a great protection s...
View full detailsWhite Jade is a form of Nephrite jade considered by many as a calming and grounding stone. People often believe that it protects its wearer from ne...
View full detailsIndulge your eyes in these beautiful lapis lazuli beads brought to you from the mountainous wilds of Afghanistan. The mineral rich landscape of Cen...
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 detailsThese beautiful grey gemstone beads are made of silver leaf jasper. Silver leaf jasper is considered by many to promote balance and stability. Pay ...
View full detailsIndulge your eyes in these beautiful lapis lazuli beads brought to you from the mountainous wilds of Afghanistan. The mineral rich landscape of Cen...
View full detailsFun and easy to work with, these colorful Druzy Agate Stone Beads are a great choice for creative and custom jewelry designs. The name Druzy genera...
View full detailsThese natural beads are made using dried lava. They are then electroplated to take on this beautiful metallic finish! Lava is a form of molten rock...
View full detailsLava is one of the oldest and most frequently found stones in the world. Some consider lava to be a healing stone and believe it to provide a calmi...
View full detailsTake a dive into the deep blue tones of these alluring Lapis Lazuli Beads. Lapis Lazuli Beads are known for their vibrant blue hue and inspiring na...
View full detailsThese Black Crackled Agate beads are distinguished by the crackled pattern on their surface. The agate stone used to make these beads may be heated...
View full detailsThese interlocking beads are carved from agate in a shape that resembles snake vertebrae. The shape is common to vintage Czech beads which were use...
View full detailsTake a look at this great strand of sea sediment jasper beads. In some traditions, Jasper is said to empower the spirit and provide energy to those...
View full detailsThese Onyx Beads are perfect for adding subtle elegance to your jewelry designs. With a round cut and consistent shape for each bead, you can be ce...
View full detailsThese beautiful heishi beads are made of authentic brown jade stone from the mines of Afghanistan. Each unique strand is about 14" in length. The b...
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 detailsTake a dive into the deep blue tones of these alluring Lapis Lazuli Beads. Lapis Lazuli Beads are known for their vibrant blue hue and inspiring na...
View full detailsAventurine is a form of natural quartz stone, characterized by its translucence and the presence of platy mineral inclusions that give a shimmering...
View full detailsAdmire the beautiful color of these Citron Yellow Jade stone beads. These beads were individually cut by artisans in Afghanistan. Many new age comm...
View full detailsThese 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 detailsFun and easy to work with, these colorful Druzy Agate Stone Beads are a great choice for creative and custom jewelry designs. The name Druzy genera...
View full detailsCheck out these amazing strands of Turquoise Stone Beads. The breathtaking tones and unique colors of these beads will add a lovely accent to your ...
View full detailsMade from authentic Guatemalita Jade stone, these unique beads have been individually shaped and polished by the native Mayan people of Guatemala i...
View full detailsAdmire this great strand of Lapis Lazuli stone beads. Each bead is made by setting a round stone between two engraved silver caps. Lapis is a natur...
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