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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.
Fun 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 Amethyst Beads are perfect for almost any jewelry making project. These beautiful beads are a lovely translucent shade of light purple, and a...
View full detailsAdmire the dark hue of these genuine Black Onyx Beads. Like the darkness of night, these beads can add an element of mystery to your creative desig...
View full detailsThese beautiful faceted beads are from the mountains of Afghanistan. They are made from recycled, reconstituted stone meant to resemble traditional...
View full detailsThese Serpentine Agate Beads are the perfect way to add a splash of color to your jewelry designs. These beads are made entirely of natural stone a...
View full detailsIndulge your eyes in these beautiful lapis lazuli beads. The mineral rich landscape of Asia has been a source of treasured stones for at least thre...
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 detailsIndulge your eyes in these beautiful orange coral color beads brought to you from the mountainous wilds of Afghanistan. These delightful, handcraft...
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 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 Nephrite Jade Beads are crafted from beautiful natural stones. The stones are a deep green and have a lovely tone gradient. The smooth rounde...
View full detailsThese unique amethyst beads are ideal for adding a cute and playful touch to your next jewelry-making project. Each bead is carved from natural sto...
View full detailsAdmire this beautiful strand of prized African Carnelian beads from Nigeria. These stone beads have been polished to perfection to bring out their ...
View full detailsThis strand of lovely Amethyst features stone beads that have a durable, eye-catching purple sheen. They are a fantastic addition to any kind of je...
View full detailsIndulge your eyes in these beautiful green jade beads brought to you from Afghanistan. The mineral rich landscape of Central Asia has been a source...
View full detailsAdmire these beautiful red jasper beads. Red jasper is a stone that is said to hold powerful physical and spiritual protection. Going back to the t...
View full detailsAdd a touch of master craftsmanship to your jewelry designs with these striking Striped Tibetan Agate Beads. These Agate Beads were sourced from Ti...
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 detailsIndulge your eyes in these beautiful dark green almost black serpentine beads brought to you from Afghanistan. The mineral rich landscape of Centra...
View full detailsPicture Jasper is a unique form of Jasper that has been used by various cultures all over the world for hundreds of years. It gets its name from th...
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 detailsAdmire these beautiful raw gemstone beads made from rough aventurine. Aventurine is a form of natural quartz stone, characterized by its translucen...
View full detailsCalcite is often known as the stone of emotional intelligence. It is naturally found in deposits from hot springs, caverns, and volcanic-derived ro...
View full detailsCheck out this great strand of stone beads made of authentic turquoise. The rustic character of these beads will add an unmistakable accent to your...
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