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Stone Beads

Africa's native sedimentary rocks encompass a beautiful palette. From the mottled beiges and creams of Soapstone Beads to the vivid coral brown of Bauxite Beads from Ghana, African Stone Beads have long been prized for their aesthetic value. Unsurprisingly, some also found use as currency prior to the influx of Glass Trade Beads to Africa in the 15th Century. Characterised by their marbled appearance and dusky rust and green hues, Mali Stone Beads are one of the earliest known forms to have been used in trans-Saharan trade. Mali Stone Beads continue to hold spiritual value in some parts of Djenne – particularly among the Zarma people of the ancient Songhai Empire whom wear the beads as 'grisgris' (talismans) to ward off evil spirits. Bauxite is an abundant ore found among the foothills of Lake Volta, Northern Ghana, and is the primary element used to produce aluminium. In its natural form, Bauxite is coral red or reddish brown in color, interspersed with specks and veins of charcoal and silvery grey. The latter is due to small iron deposits embedded within the stone, causing it to sparkle in bright sunlight. Both the Krobo and Ashanti tribes of Ghana favour Bauxite for bead-making, primarily because of its resemblance to coral – a material which still holds significant value in some parts of Africa owing to its rarity. Bauxite Beads can be found in numerous sizes and shapes online, however, most bead strings from Ghana will feature beads that are loosely cylindrical or donut-like in shape – a reflection of the hand-shaping and polishing techniques that transform these stones into beautiful wearable beads.

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Carved Swirl Oval Unakite Beads (17x11mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Carved Swirl Oval Unakite Beads (17x11mm)

Out of stock

Unakite beads are a beautiful combination of green and pink that create a unique, mottled appearance. These semi-precious gemstones are often used ...

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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
Sold out
Interlocking Crescent Unakite Beads (8x4mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Interlocking Crescent Unakite Beads (8x4mm)

Out of stock

Unakite beads are a beautiful combination of green and pink that create a unique, mottled appearance. These semi-precious gemstones are often used ...

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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
Sold out
Round Red Jasper Beads (12mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00

Round Red Jasper Beads (12mm)

Out of stock

Red Jasper beads are a bold and striking addition to any jewelry collection. These semi-precious gemstones feature a deep red color with natural va...

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$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
Sold out
Round Red Jasper Beads (8mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

Round Red Jasper Beads (8mm)

Out of stock

Red Jasper beads are a bold and striking addition to any jewelry collection. These semi-precious gemstones feature a deep red color with natural va...

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$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
Sold out
Red Jasper Chip Beads (7-14mm) - The Bead Chest
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00

Red Jasper Chip Beads (7-14mm)

in stock

Red Jasper beads are a bold and striking addition to any jewelry collection. These semi-precious gemstones feature a deep red color with natural va...

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$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
Red Jasper Chip Beads (10-17mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00

Red Jasper Chip Beads (10-17mm)

Out of stock

Red Jasper beads are a bold and striking addition to any jewelry collection. These semi-precious gemstones feature a deep red color with natural va...

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$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
Sold out
Milky Red Jasper Chip Beads (7-17mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
$16.00
$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00

Milky Red Jasper Chip Beads (7-17mm)

Out of stock

Red Jasper beads are a bold and striking addition to any jewelry collection. These semi-precious gemstones feature a deep red color with natural va...

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$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
$16.00
$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00
Sold out
Ancient Mali Carnelian Stone Beads #14572 - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$195.00 - $195.00
$195.00
$195.00
$195.00 - $195.00
$195.00

Ancient Mali Carnelian Stone Beads #14572

Out of stock

These old stone beads are both colorful and unusual. Natural stone was among the earliest materials used by ancient cultures to make beads for pers...

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$195.00 - $195.00
$195.00
$195.00
$195.00 - $195.00
$195.00
Sold out
Ancient Mali Carnelian Stone Beads #14571 - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$195.00 - $195.00
$195.00
$195.00
$195.00 - $195.00
$195.00

Ancient Mali Carnelian Stone Beads #14571

Out of stock

These old stone beads are both colorful and unusual. Natural stone was among the earliest materials used by ancient cultures to make beads for pers...

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$195.00 - $195.00
$195.00
$195.00
$195.00 - $195.00
$195.00
Sold out
Ancient Mali Carnelian Stone Beads #14570 - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$195.00 - $195.00
$195.00
$195.00
$195.00 - $195.00
$195.00

Ancient Mali Carnelian Stone Beads #14570

Out of stock

These old stone beads are both colorful and unusual. Natural stone was among the earliest materials used by ancient cultures to make beads for pers...

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$195.00 - $195.00
$195.00
$195.00
$195.00 - $195.00
$195.00
Sold out
Ancient Mali Carnelian Stone Beads #14569 - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$195.00 - $195.00
$195.00
$195.00
$195.00 - $195.00
$195.00

Ancient Mali Carnelian Stone Beads #14569

Out of stock

These old stone beads are both colorful and unusual. Natural stone was among the earliest materials used by ancient cultures to make beads for pers...

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$195.00 - $195.00
$195.00
$195.00
$195.00 - $195.00
$195.00
Sold out
Ancient Mali Carnelian Stone Beads #14568 - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$195.00 - $195.00
$195.00
$195.00
$195.00 - $195.00
$195.00

Ancient Mali Carnelian Stone Beads #14568

Out of stock

These old stone beads are both colorful and unusual. Natural stone was among the earliest materials used by ancient cultures to make beads for pers...

View full details
$195.00 - $195.00
$195.00
$195.00
$195.00 - $195.00
$195.00
Sold out
Malachite-Style Stone Saucer Beads (8mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Malachite-Style Stone Saucer Beads (8mm)

Out of stock

These beautiful stone beads are from the mountains of Afghanistan. They are made from recycled, reconstituted stone meant to resemble traditional M...

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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
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Yellow Jade Stone Nugget Beads (12mm) - The Bead Chest
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00

Yellow Jade Stone Nugget Beads (12mm)

in stock

Indulge your eyes in these beautiful jade beads brought to you from the mountainous wilds of Afghanistan. The mineral-rich landscape of Central Asi...

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$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
Ancient Beige Cylindrical Mali Granite Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00
$79.00
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00

Ancient Beige Cylindrical Mali Granite Beads

Out of stock

These unusual stone beads are said to be hundreds of years old. Each bead has been individually shaped from granite stone and arranged nicely as a ...

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$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00
$79.00
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00
Sold out
Ancient Mauritanian Boksameh Stone Beads - The Bead Chest
$1,200.00 - $1,200.00
$1,200.00
$1,200.00
$1,200.00 - $1,200.00
$1,200.00

Ancient Mauritanian Boksameh Stone Beads

Only 1 left!

These old stone beads are both colorful and exceptionally unusual. Natural stone was among the earliest materials used by ancient cultures to make ...

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$1,200.00 - $1,200.00
$1,200.00
$1,200.00
$1,200.00 - $1,200.00
$1,200.00
Light Green Serpentine Heishi Beads (4mm) - The Bead Chest
Save 30% Save %
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$7.00
$7.00 - $7.00
$7.00

Light Green Serpentine Heishi Beads (4mm)

in stock

Indulge your eyes in these beautiful serpentine beads brought to you from the mountainous wilds of Afghanistan. The mineral rich landscape of Centr...

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$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$7.00
$7.00 - $7.00
$7.00
Save 30% Save %
Turquoise-Style Bicone Beads (6x3mm) - The Bead Chest
Save 50% Save %
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$5.00
$5.00 - $5.00
$5.00

Turquoise-Style Bicone Beads (6x3mm)

in stock

These beautiful cylindrical-shaped beads are from the mountains of Afghanistan. They are made from recycled, reconstituted stone meant to resemble ...

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$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$5.00
$5.00 - $5.00
$5.00
Save 50% Save %
Mint Green Turquoise-Style Bicone Beads (6x3mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$6.00
$6.00 - $6.00
$6.00

Mint Green Turquoise-Style Bicone Beads (6x3mm)

Out of stock

These beautiful bicone-shaped beads are from the mountains of Afghanistan. They are made from recycled, reconstituted stone meant to resemble tradi...

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$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$6.00
$6.00 - $6.00
$6.00
Sold out
African Serpentine Stone Beads #14577 - The Bead Chest
$349.00 - $349.00
$349.00
$349.00
$349.00 - $349.00
$349.00

African Serpentine Stone Beads #14577

Only 1 left!

Admire this beautiful strand of Serpentine Stone Beads from Mali West Africa. Beads such as these have been prized for their unique color since Neo...

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$349.00 - $349.00
$349.00
$349.00
$349.00 - $349.00
$349.00
African Serpentine Stone Beads #14576 - The Bead Chest
$349.00 - $349.00
$349.00
$349.00
$349.00 - $349.00
$349.00

African Serpentine Stone Beads #14576

Only 1 left!

Admire this beautiful strand of Serpentine Stone Beads from Mali West Africa. Beads such as these have been prized for their unique color since Neo...

View full details
$349.00 - $349.00
$349.00
$349.00
$349.00 - $349.00
$349.00
African Serpentine Stone Beads #14575 - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$349.00 - $349.00
$349.00
$349.00
$349.00 - $349.00
$349.00

African Serpentine Stone Beads #14575

Out of stock

Admire this beautiful strand of Serpentine Stone Beads from Mali West Africa. Beads such as these have been prized for their unique color since Neo...

View full details
$349.00 - $349.00
$349.00
$349.00
$349.00 - $349.00
$349.00
Sold out
African Serpentine Stone Beads #14574 - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$349.00 - $349.00
$349.00
$349.00
$349.00 - $349.00
$349.00

African Serpentine Stone Beads #14574

Out of stock

Admire this beautiful strand of Serpentine Stone Beads from Mali West Africa. Beads such as these have been prized for their unique color since Neo...

View full details
$349.00 - $349.00
$349.00
$349.00
$349.00 - $349.00
$349.00
Sold out
African Serpentine Stone Beads #14573 - The Bead Chest
$349.00 - $349.00
$349.00
$349.00
$349.00 - $349.00
$349.00

African Serpentine Stone Beads #14573

Only 1 left!

Admire this beautiful strand of Serpentine Stone Beads from Mali West Africa. Beads such as these have been prized for their unique color since Neo...

View full details
$349.00 - $349.00
$349.00
$349.00
$349.00 - $349.00
$349.00