Skip to content
Free Shipping on US Orders $99 and Above!
Free Shipping on US Orders $99+!

Country

Wood Beads

With their warm colors and striking natural inclusions, its hardly surprising that African Wood Beads were once a coveted format of currency among the indigenous tribes of Africa. The exchange of wooden beads for goods can be traced back to the Neolithic era in 10000 B.C when humans pioneered crop cultivation, and began to farm land for both self sufficiency and profit. According to historian Lois Dubin, wooden beads were also prized among the Neolithic Egyptians, with many burying great hoards alongside their dead believing that money would aid them in the afterlife. For many tribes, Wood Beads are an ecological preference over newer materials such as glass and plastic. The Maasai people of Kenya are particularly renowned for their ethical approach, and still prefer to use wooden beads for their elaborate tiered collars and exuberant pendants which distinguish them from other clans. Wooden Heishi Beads are among the earliest known formats to be produced for adornment. Both the Surma of Ethiopia and the Dogon tribes of Mali reproduced shell Heishi Beads from soft woods and bamboo, strings of which would often be exchanged with other clans for weaponry and animals. Distinguished by its reddish-brown hue and beautiful natural inclusions, Rosewood has become a particularly popular material for bead-craft among tribes in Ghana, the Congo and Cameroon. Usually round or oval in shape, Rosewood Beads are often used to create strings of Prayer Beads, or as accents for necklaces made of lighter woods, such as Olive and Palm. Known for their hardiness and durability, Olive Wood Beads have proven particularly popular for African Rosaries, and you'll find many are carved with symbols that have some kind of religious connotation. Palm Wood Beads, made from the timber of coconut bearing palm trees, are also becoming increasingly popular in the West. A delicious golden hue with flecks of dark brown, they make for beautiful focal spacers for Bohemian necklaces and chunky African bracelets!

More About Wood Beads

  • 7 Great Reasons to Use Wood Beads in Jewelry Making
    December 19, 2022 The Bead Chest

    7 Great Reasons to Use Wood Beads in Jewelry Making

    Wood beads are a popular choice for jewelry making, and for good reason. They come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors, and they are lightweight and easy to work with. Plus, they are affordable and long-lasting. Here are...

    Read now
  • Top 10 Ways to Use Wood Beads
    December 19, 2022 The Bead Chest

    Top 10 Ways to Use Wood Beads

    Wood beads are a type of crafting material made from wood that has been cut, shaped and polished. Wood beads have been used for centuries for a variety of purposes and can be found in a variety of sizes, shapes,...

    Read now