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Metal Beads

  • Smooth Extra Large Gold Heishi Beads (6mm) - The Bead Chest
    $12.50 - $12.50
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    Smooth Extra Large Gold Heishi Beads (6mm)

    in stock

    Beautiful strand of high quality, ethnic gold colored brass beads measuring 16" in length. Individual beads measure 1.5 x 6mm in size, with holes m...

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    $12.50 - $12.50
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  • Silver Faceted Ring Beads (7mm) - The Bead Chest
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    Silver Faceted Ring Beads (7mm)

    in stock

    These Antiqued Silver Beads certainly make an excellent choice for a variety of jewelry designs. This lovely strand of glistening dark silver beads...

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

    in stock

    Take a look at this great strand of silver beads fashioned in a heishi shape without any seam. Each strand is about 24" inches long with approximat...

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

    in stock

    Beautiful strand of faceted gold beads. These beads have been fashioned to resemble a diamond cut. They will add a glamorous touch to your beaded j...

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  • Brass Faceted Ring Beads (7mm) - The Bead Chest
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    Brass Faceted Ring Beads (7mm)

    in stock

    These chic Gold Nugget Beads are made from brass and have a striking gold finish. With a special shiny finish these beads will add just the right a...

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  • Shiny Silver Faceted Ring Beads (7mm) - The Bead Chest
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    Shiny Silver Faceted Ring Beads (7mm)

    in stock

    These Bright Silver Beads provide a subtle, elegant look for jewelry designs and other DIY craft projects. With a unique shape and gorgeous silver ...

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

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    Take a look at this great strand of gold beads fashioned in a heishi shape. Each strand is 26" inches long with approximately 340 beads measuring 2...

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

    in stock

    These faceted cylinder beads have a subdued antique silver finish. Great for designing vintage style jewelry, each 9" strand has approximately 50 b...

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  • Smooth Gold Heishi Beads (5mm) - The Bead Chest
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    Smooth Gold Heishi Beads (5mm)

    in stock

    Take a look at this great strand of brass beads fashioned in a heishi shape. Each strand is 16"inches long with approximately 240 beads measuring 1...

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

    in stock

    These great brass cube beads measure approximately 3mm in size, with a hole size of 2mm. Each strand measures approximately 25 inches in length. Hi...

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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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  • 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 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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  • Smooth Brass Seed Beads (3mm) - The Bead Chest
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    Smooth Brass Seed Beads (3mm)

    in stock

    Beautiful strand of high quality, ethnic brass beads measuring 25" in length. Individual beads measure 2x3mm in size, with holes measuring. Each st...

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  • Antiqued Brass Tiny Oval Beads (2mm) - The Bead Chest
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    Antiqued 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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  • Brass Melon Beads (6mm) - The Bead Chest
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    Brass Melon Beads (6mm)

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    These cute silver beads are designed to mimic watermelons. Each bead measures approximately 6 x 6mm with a hole size of approximately 2mm. You will...

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  • Smooth Extra Large Brass Heishi Beads (6mm) - The Bead Chest
    $12.50 - $12.50
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    Smooth Extra Large Brass Heishi Beads (6mm)

    in stock

    Beautiful strand of high quality, ethnic brass beads measuring 16" in length. Individual beads measure 1.5 x 6mm in size, with holes measuring 2mm....

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    $12.50 - $12.50
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  • Brass Flat Disk Heishi Beads (10mm) - The Bead Chest
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    Brass Flat Disk Heishi Beads (10mm)

    in stock

    Brighten up your designs with these useful Brass Disk Heishi Beads. The flat shape of these beads makes them highly versatile and they may be used ...

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  • Antiqued Copper Faceted Rectangle Beads (4x2mm) - The Bead Chest
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    Antiqued Copper Faceted Rectangle Beads (4x2mm)

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    These Antique Style Copper Beads offer a unique and fashionable style. Each bead has a delicate copper hue and antique finish that give a vintage l...

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

    in stock

    These fine quality tube beads are narrow and relatively consistent in shape. Each bead measures approximately 11 x 1.5mm with a hole size of approx...

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  • Smooth Gold Rondelle Beads (5mm) - The Bead Chest
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    Smooth Gold Rondelle Beads (5mm)

    in stock

    These striking gold colored beads are made from solid brass. These artisan beads are top notch and are perfect for all of your jewelry and craft pr...

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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.