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  • Original price $15.00 - Original price $15.00
    Original price $15.00
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    Current price $15.00

    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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    Original price $15.00 - Original price $15.00
    Original price $15.00
    $15.00
    $15.00 - $15.00
    Current price $15.00
  • Original price $12.00 - Original price $12.00
    Original price $12.00
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    Current price $12.00

    Ethiopian Brass Bicone Beads (8x7mm)

    in stock

    Here is a beautiful strand of Ethiopian Brass Bicone from Africa. Each bead is handmade individually. The strand is a long 30", with beads measur...

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    Original price $12.00 - Original price $12.00
    Original price $12.00
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    Current price $12.00
  • Original price $15.80 - Original price $15.80
    Original price $15.80
    $15.80
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    Current price $15.80

    Round White Metal Ethiopian Beads (8mm)

    in stock

    Here is a beautiful strand of Ethiopian White Metal Round Beads from Africa. Each bead is handmade individually. The strand is a long approx. 28", ...

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    Original price $15.80 - Original price $15.80
    Original price $15.80
    $15.80
    $15.80 - $15.80
    Current price $15.80
  • Original price $15.00 - Original price $15.00
    Original price $15.00
    $15.00
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    Current price $15.00

    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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    Original price $15.00 - Original price $15.00
    Original price $15.00
    $15.00
    $15.00 - $15.00
    Current price $15.00
  • Original price $11.80
    Original price $11.80 - Original price $11.80
    Original price $11.80
    Current price $8.00
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    Current price $8.00

    Brass Ethiopian Tube Beads (7x3mm)

    in stock

    Beautiful strand of brass tube beads from Ethiopia!. Beads are 6-8mm long with a diameter of 3mm. This extra long strand measures approximately 32...

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    Original price $11.80
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    Original price $11.80
    Current price $8.00
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    Current price $8.00
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  • Original price $14.00
    Original price $14.00 - Original price $14.00
    Original price $14.00
    Current price $12.00
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    Current price $12.00

    Ethiopian White Metal Bicone Beads (8x7mm)

    Only 5 left!

    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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    Original price $14.00
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    Original price $14.00
    Current price $12.00
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    Current price $12.00
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  • Original price $10.00
    Original price $10.00 - Original price $10.00
    Original price $10.00
    Current price $7.50
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    Brass Heishi Ethiopian Beads (2.5-3mm)

    in stock

    Beautiful strand of Brass Heishi beads from Ethiopia!. Beads are about 2.5-3mm diameter. The strand is approximately 28 inches long with hole size...

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    Original price $10.00
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    Original price $10.00
    Current price $7.50
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    Current price $7.50
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  • Original price $11.00
    Original price $11.00 - Original price $11.00
    Original price $11.00
    Current price $9.00
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    Dark Silver Heishi Ethiopian Beads (Set of 2)

    Only 1 left!

    Set of two strands of dark silver color vintage heishi beads. Each of these 20" strands has it's own unique character. Individual beads are approxi...

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    Original price $11.00
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    Original price $11.00
    Current price $9.00
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  • Original price $15.00 - Original price $15.00
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    Brass Ethiopian Prayer Beads

    in stock

    These beautiful brass color beads come from Ethiopia. The strand is 34" long with beads measuring approximately 11mm in length and 8mm in diameter...

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  • Original price $11.00
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    Brass Heishi Ethiopian Beads (4mm)

    in stock

    Beautiful strand of Large Brass Heishi beads from Ethiopia!. Beads are about 4mm diameter. The strand is approximately 28 inches long.

    Original price $11.00
    Original price $11.00 - Original price $11.00
    Original price $11.00
    Current price $10.00
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    Current price $10.00
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  • Original price $14.00
    Original price $14.00 - Original price $14.00
    Original price $14.00
    Current price $12.00
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    Current price $12.00

    Ethiopian Copper Bicone Beads (5x5mm)

    Only 7 left!

    Take a look at these Ethiopian copper beads from Ethiopia. Each bead is handmade individually. The strand is a long 30-32", with beads measuring a...

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    Original price $14.00
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    Original price $14.00
    Current price $12.00
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    Current price $12.00
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  • Original price $10.00
    Original price $10.00 - Original price $10.00
    Original price $10.00
    Current price $8.00
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    Silver Rectangular Tube Ethiopian Beads (5x2mm)

    in stock

    Admire this great strand of silver beads from Ethiopia fashioned in an unusual rectangular tube shape. This is a creative twist on the cylindrical ...

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    Original price $10.00
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    Original price $10.00
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  • Original price $9.00 - Original price $9.00
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    Ethiopian Dark Silver Tube Beads (3mm)

    in stock

    Beautiful strand of white metal tube beads from Ethiopia!

    Original price $9.00 - Original price $9.00
    Original price $9.00
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  • Original price $12.00 - Original price $12.00
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    Round White Metal Ethiopian Beads (4mm)

    in stock

    Here is a beautiful strand of Ethiopian White Metal Round Beads from Africa. Each bead is handmade individually. The strand is a long approx. 32", ...

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    Original price $12.00 - Original price $12.00
    Original price $12.00
    $12.00
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    Current price $12.00
  • Original price $11.80
    Original price $11.80 - Original price $11.80
    Original price $11.80
    Current price $8.00
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    Current price $8.00

    Brass Tube Ethiopian Beads (7x2mm)

    in stock

    Beautiful strand of brass tube beads from Ethiopia! Beads are 8-9mm long with a diameter of approximately 2mm and hole size of about 1.5mm. The str...

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    Original price $11.80
    Original price $11.80 - Original price $11.80
    Original price $11.80
    Current price $8.00
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    Current price $8.00
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  • Original price $9.00 - Original price $9.00
    Original price $9.00
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    Dark Silver Ethiopian Tube Beads (7x2mm)

    in stock

    Admire this great strand of silver Ethiopian tube metal beads. These beads have been individually fashioned by hand which lends to them a unique an...

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    Original price $9.00 - Original price $9.00
    Original price $9.00
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    Current price $9.00
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    Silver Ethiopian Rectangular Tube Beads (3mm)

    in stock

    Admire this great strand of silver beads from Ethiopia fashioned in a useful rectangular tube shape. This cylindrical tube design is a great staple...

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    Original price $9.00 - Original price $9.00
    Original price $9.00
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    Current price $9.00
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    Copper Heishi Ethiopian Beads (4mm)

    in stock

    Beautiful strand of Large Copper Heishi beads from Ethiopia!. Beads are about 4mm diameter. The strand is approx. 28 inches long with hole size o...

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    Original price $8.00 - Original price $8.00
    Original price $8.00
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    Current price $8.00
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    Folded Dark Silver Tube Ethiopian Beads (5x3mm)

    in stock

    Admire this great strand of silver Ethiopian tube metal beads. These beads have been individually fashioned by hand which lends to them a unique an...

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    Original price $9.00
    Original price $9.00 - Original price $9.00
    Original price $9.00
    Current price $8.00
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    Current price $8.00
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  • Original price $16.00 - Original price $16.00
    Original price $16.00
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    Brass Ethiopian Scratch Beads (8x5mm)

    in stock

    Beautiful strand of brass beads from Ethiopia. The uneven surface of these beads creates a unique scratch-like appearance that resembles tree bark!

    Original price $16.00 - Original price $16.00
    Original price $16.00
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    Current price $16.00
  • Original price $11.80
    Original price $11.80 - Original price $11.80
    Original price $11.80
    Current price $8.00
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    Current price $8.00

    White Metal Tube Ethiopian Beads (7x3mm)

    in stock

    Beautiful strand of white metal tube beads from Ethiopia!

    Original price $11.80
    Original price $11.80 - Original price $11.80
    Original price $11.80
    Current price $8.00
    $8.00 - $8.00
    Current price $8.00
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  • Original price $15.00
    Original price $15.00 - Original price $15.00
    Original price $15.00
    Current price $14.00
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    Current price $14.00

    Ethiopian Elongated Brass Oval Beads (10x6mm)

    Only 5 left!

    Admire this great strand of brass Ethiopian oval metal beads. These beads have been individually fashioned by hand which lends to them a unique and...

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    Original price $15.00
    Original price $15.00 - Original price $15.00
    Original price $15.00
    Current price $14.00
    $14.00 - $14.00
    Current price $14.00
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  • Original price $15.80
    Original price $15.80 - Original price $15.80
    Original price $15.80
    Current price $12.50
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    Current price $12.50

    Round Copper Ethiopian Beads (8mm)

    in stock

    Here is a beautiful strand of Ethiopian Copper Round Beads from Africa. Each bead is handmade individually. The strand is a long approx. 28", with ...

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    Original price $15.80
    Original price $15.80 - Original price $15.80
    Original price $15.80
    Current price $12.50
    $12.50 - $12.50
    Current price $12.50
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  • Original price $14.00 - Original price $14.00
    Original price $14.00
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    Current price $14.00

    Ethiopian White Metal Mini-Bicone Beads (5x5mm)

    in stock

    Take a look at these Ethiopian White Metal beads from Africa made the shape of a mini-bicone. Each bead is handmade individually. The strand is a l...

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    Original price $14.00 - Original price $14.00
    Original price $14.00
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    Current price $14.00
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.
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