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Metal Beads

  • Kenya Brass Heishi Beads - The Bead Chest
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    Kenya Brass Heishi Beads

    in stock

    Take a look at this strand of Kenya Brass Heishi beads from Africa. The strand is 13"-15" long, with beads measuring 1 mm in length and 3-4mm in d...

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  • Antiqued Brass Bell Beads (Set of 20) - The Bead Chest
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    Antiqued Brass Bell Beads (Set of 20)

    in stock

    These cute metal bells are great for DIY jewelry and crafts alike. Measuring approximately 11 x 11mm in size, you will receive 20 bells per purchas...

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  • Brass Donut Beads (10mm) - The Bead Chest
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    Brass Donut Beads (10mm)

    in stock

    Take a look at this great strand of brass beads fashioned in a ring shape. Each strand is 10" inches long with beads measuring 2 x 10mm. These grea...

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  • Kenya Copper Heishi Beads - The Bead Chest
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    Kenya Copper Heishi Beads

    in stock

    Take a look at this strand of Kenya Copper Heishi beads from Africa. The strand is 12" long, with beads measuring 1mm in width and 3-4mm in diameter.

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  • Silver Faceted Square Heishi Beads (3mm) - The Bead Chest
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    Silver Faceted Square Heishi Beads (3mm)

    in stock

    Take a look at these stunning silver square heishi beads. These beads make for a great spacer in jewelry designs! Each artisan bead strand measures...

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  • Polished Silver Prayer Beads - The Bead Chest
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    Polished Silver Prayer Beads

    in stock

    Admire this beautiful set of silver color prayer beads, polished to perfection. These high quality adornments have an ethnic feel, and are sure to ...

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  • Kenya White Metal Heishi Beads - The Bead Chest
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    Kenya White Metal Heishi Beads

    in stock

    Take a look at this strand of Kenya White Heishi beads from Africa. The strand is 12" long, with beads measuring 1mm wide and approximately 4mm in...

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  • Antiqued Brass Patterned Heishi Beads (3mm) - The Bead Chest
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    Antiqued Brass Patterned Heishi Beads (3mm)

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    Take a look at this great strand of brass beads fashioned in a heishi shape. Each strand is 27" inches long with approximately 338 beads measuring ...

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  • Brass Tube Beads (1.5mm) - The Bead Chest
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    Brass Tube Beads (1.5mm)

    in stock

    These fine quality brass tube beads are narrow and relatively consistent in shape. Each bead measures approximately 10-11mm wide by 1.5mm diameter....

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  • Round Brass Ethiopian Beads (8mm) - The Bead Chest
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    Round Brass Ethiopian Beads (8mm)

    in stock

    Here is a beautiful strand of Ethiopian Brass Round Bicone from Africa. Each bead is handmade individually. The strand is a long approx. 28", wi...

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  • Ethiopian White Metal Bicone Beads (8x7mm) - The Bead Chest
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    Ethiopian White Metal Bicone Beads (8x7mm)

    in stock

    Take a look at these Ethiopian White Metal beads from Africa. Each bead is handmade individually. The strand is a long 27-30", with beads measuri...

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  • Brass Tiny Oval Beads (2mm) - The Bead Chest
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    Brass Tiny Oval Beads (2mm)

    in stock

    Beautiful strand of high quality, ethnic brass beads measuring 24" in length. Individual beads measure 2 x 2mm in size, with holes measuring approx...

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  • Silver Donut Beads (10mm) - The Bead Chest
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    Silver Donut Beads (10mm)

    in stock

    Take a look at these striking White Metal Silver Toned Donut Beads. Silver Donut Beads like this make for a great accent piece or spacer in most cu...

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  • Rounded Copper Cube Beads (3mm) - The Bead Chest
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    Rounded Copper Cube Beads (3mm)

    in stock

    We are loving these beautiful strands of high quality antique copper beads. Each artisan strand measures in at about 24" in length. Each bead is ap...

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  • Brass-Style Ghana Glass Seed Beads - The Bead Chest
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    Brass-Style Ghana Glass Seed Beads

    in stock

    Beautiful strand of brass glass seed beads from Ghana, strung on a traditional raffia string. Each bead measures approximately 3-4 x 4mm with stran...

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  • Silver Faceted Diamond Cut Beads (3mm) - The Bead Chest
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    Silver Faceted Diamond Cut Beads (3mm)

    in stock

    These diamond cut beads, also commonly referred to as corner less cube beads, measure approximately 3 x 3mm in size, with a hole size of 2mm. Each ...

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  • Round Brass Ethiopian Beads (6-7mm) - The Bead Chest
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    Round Brass Ethiopian Beads (6-7mm)

    in stock

    Here is a beautiful strand of Ethiopian Brass Round Beads from Africa. Each bead is handmade individually. The strand is a long approx. 30", with b...

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  • Shiny White Metal Tube Beads (1.5mm) - The Bead Chest
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    Shiny White Metal Tube Beads (1.5mm)

    in stock

    These fine quality tube beads are narrow and relatively consistent in shape. Each bead measures approximately 10-11mm wide by 1.5mm diameter. Hard ...

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  • Pharaonic Copper Scarab Bead (20x14mm) - The Bead Chest
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    Pharaonic Copper Scarab Bead (20x14mm)

    in stock

    Take a look at this copper scarab bead. Scarabs are considered sacred in ancient Egyptian culture. If you look carefully you will see this piece wa...

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  • Brass Diamond Cut Cylinder Beads (4x8mm) - The Bead Chest
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    Brass Diamond Cut Cylinder Beads (4x8mm)

    in stock

    These brass beads are fashioned in an unusual faceted cylinder shape. Individual beads measure 4x8mm with a large 5mm hole. Each strand measures 9"...

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  • Coral-Inlaid Afghan Tribal Silver Bead (16mm) - The Bead Chest
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    Coral-Inlaid Afghan Tribal Silver Bead (16mm)

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    Take a close look at this unique tribal bead hand made by artisans in Afghanistan. Individually crafted, each metal bead is inlaid with a material ...

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  • Round Silver Artisanal Berber Bead (23mm) - The Bead Chest
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    Round Silver Artisanal Berber Bead (23mm)

    in stock

    This artisanal Moroccan bead was handcrafted by Berber artisans west of the Atlas mountains. Pay attention to the elegant pattern on the bead's out...

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  • Brass Flat Disk Heishi Beads (3mm) - The Bead Chest
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    Brass Flat Disk Heishi Beads (3mm)

    in stock

    Take a moment to admire these chic brass disk heishi beads. The flat shape of these heishi beads makes them a fun and handy bead to use when creati...

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  • Bronze Round Crimp Beads (2mm, Set of 100) - The Bead Chest
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    Bronze Round Crimp Beads (2mm, Set of 100)

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    Looking to create a clean and smooth finish or stop on your jewelry designs? Our bronze round crimp beads will make the perfect stops and separator...

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Ornate and beautiful, African Metal Beads have long been an expressive art medium for indigenous tribes of the Southern and Eastern Capes. Their versatility as both a currency and symbol of status has vastly improved the fortunes of many impoverished regions, and borne an art form that continues to be imparted by ancestors to younger generations. Focal African Copper Beads are thought to be among the earliest formats produced using the “lost wax” method; an ancient Tuareg technique involving the use of hollow wax molds to shape and set molten metal. Ductile and soft, copper is one of the easiest metals to manipulate into elaborate shapes, which is why you'll find the vast majority of Copper Beads here at The Bead Chest are characterised by intricate designs and filigree work. Ethiopian Heishi Beads produced prior to the 1950's also utilised this method, and historians suggest the ancient Tuareg technique may have paved the way for the cage-like Baoule Brass Beads now produced in abundance along the Ivory Coast. Africa's popular White Metal Beads are a more recent innovation. They are commonly produced using recyclable alloys, such as aluminium, sourced from discarded cans and industrial roofing. Metal Beads tend to be far less elaborate in character than their copper counterparts owing to the process by which they are made. Both Tube and Heishi Beads are produced using the “winding” technique – a process whereby the metal is heated until malleable, before winding it around a mandrel and hammering it into shape. This technique allows for greater uniformity when crafting smaller beads, making them ideal for bead-weaving and peyote style projects.