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Wood Beads

  • Round Black Ebony Arabian Prayer Beads (8mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $24.00 - $24.00
    $24.00
    $24.00
    $24.00 - $24.00
    $24.00

    Round Black Ebony Arabian Prayer Beads (8mm)

    Out of stock

    Evocative of a lost world, these beautiful Arabian prayer beads have been handcrafted by a master artisan using authentic ebony wood. The refined q...

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    $24.00 - $24.00
    $24.00
    $24.00
    $24.00 - $24.00
    $24.00
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  • Rustic Black Saucer Natural Wood Beads (15mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $5.99
    $5.99 - $5.99
    $5.99
    $3.99
    $3.99 - $3.99
    $3.99

    Rustic Black Saucer Natural Wood Beads (15mm)

    Out of stock

    These wooden saucer beads are made of top quality natural wood and are perfect for your jewelry and craft projects. Available in a variety of finis...

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    $5.99
    $5.99 - $5.99
    $5.99
    $3.99
    $3.99 - $3.99
    $3.99
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  • Natural Plant Seed Beads (3 Strands) - The Bead Chest
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    $11.50
    $11.50 - $11.50
    $11.50
    $8.00
    $8.00 - $8.00
    $8.00

    Natural Plant Seed Beads (3 Strands)

    Out of stock

    Beautiful strand of Natural Plant Seed Beads. These beads are sold as a bunch of 3 strands.

    $11.50
    $11.50 - $11.50
    $11.50
    $8.00
    $8.00 - $8.00
    $8.00
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  • Jumbo Round Inlaid Mali Ebony Wood Beads (30mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $89.00 - $89.00
    $89.00
    $89.00
    $89.00 - $89.00
    $89.00

    Jumbo Round Inlaid Mali Ebony Wood Beads (30mm)

    Out of stock

    Brought to you from a village not far from Western Mali, these beautiful ebony wood beads are uniquely inlaid with a traditional tribal pattern usi...

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    $89.00 - $89.00
    $89.00
    $89.00
    $89.00 - $89.00
    $89.00
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  • "Names of Allah" Oval Silver-Inlaid Arabian Prayer Beads - The Bead Chest
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    $39.00 - $39.00
    $39.00
    $39.00
    $39.00 - $39.00
    $39.00

    "Names of Allah" Oval Silver-Inlaid Arabian Prayer Beads

    Out of stock

    Admire this special strand of authentic Arabian beads inlaid with the "99 names of Allah." Handcrafted by a master artisan, every single bead is ca...

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    $39.00 - $39.00
    $39.00
    $39.00
    $39.00 - $39.00
    $39.00
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  • Black Silver-Inlaid "Names of Allah" Arabian Prayer Beads (6mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $39.00 - $39.00
    $39.00
    $39.00
    $39.00 - $39.00
    $39.00

    Black Silver-Inlaid "Names of Allah" Arabian Prayer Beads (6mm)

    Out of stock

    Admire this special strand of authentic Arabian beads inlaid with the "99 names of Allah." Handcrafted by a master artisan, every single bead is ca...

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    $39.00 - $39.00
    $39.00
    $39.00
    $39.00 - $39.00
    $39.00
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  • Charcoal Natural Wood Beads (6mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $1.99 - $1.99
    $1.99
    $1.99
    $1.99 - $1.99
    $1.99

    Charcoal Natural Wood Beads (6mm)

    Out of stock

    These round wooden beads are made of top quality natural wood and are perfect for your jewelry and craft projects. Available in a variety of natur...

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    $1.99 - $1.99
    $1.99
    $1.99
    $1.99 - $1.99
    $1.99
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  • Silver Striped Inlaid Arabian Prayer Beads (8mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $39.00 - $39.00
    $39.00
    $39.00
    $39.00 - $39.00
    $39.00

    Silver Striped Inlaid Arabian Prayer Beads (8mm)

    Out of stock

    Evocative of a lost world, these beautiful Arabian prayer beads have been handcrafted by a master artisan. Look carefully and you will see that eac...

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    $39.00 - $39.00
    $39.00
    $39.00
    $39.00 - $39.00
    $39.00
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  • Black Silver-Inlaid "Stripe Design" Arabian Prayer Beads (6mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $35.00 - $35.00
    $35.00
    $35.00
    $35.00 - $35.00
    $35.00

    Black Silver-Inlaid "Stripe Design" Arabian Prayer Beads (6mm)

    Out of stock

    Evocative of a lost world, these beautiful Arabian prayer beads have been handcrafted by a master artisan. Look carefully and you will see that eac...

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    $35.00 - $35.00
    $35.00
    $35.00
    $35.00 - $35.00
    $35.00
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  • Rondelle Black Ebony Arabian Prayer Beads (8mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $16.00 - $16.00
    $16.00
    $16.00
    $16.00 - $16.00
    $16.00

    Rondelle Black Ebony Arabian Prayer Beads (8mm)

    Out of stock

    Evocative of a lost world, these beautiful Arabian prayer beads have been handcrafted by a master artisan using authentic ebony wood. The refined q...

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    $16.00 - $16.00
    $16.00
    $16.00
    $16.00 - $16.00
    $16.00
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  • Ivory Coast Wood Beads - The Bead Chest
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    $14.00 - $14.00
    $14.00
    $14.00
    $14.00 - $14.00
    $14.00

    Ivory Coast Wood Beads

    Out of stock

    Take a look at this interesting strand of black wood and cowrie shell beads from Ivory Coast West Africa. These beads are traded throughout North A...

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    $14.00 - $14.00
    $14.00
    $14.00
    $14.00 - $14.00
    $14.00
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  • Rondelle Black Ebony Arabian Prayer Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $26.00 - $26.00
    $26.00
    $26.00
    $26.00 - $26.00
    $26.00

    Rondelle Black Ebony Arabian Prayer Beads (14mm)

    Out of stock

    Evocative of a lost world, these beautiful Arabian prayer beads have been handcrafted by a master artisan using authentic ebony wood. The refined q...

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    $26.00 - $26.00
    $26.00
    $26.00
    $26.00 - $26.00
    $26.00
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  • Round Inlaid Ebony Wood Beads (18mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $79.00
    $79.00 - $79.00
    $79.00
    $71.00
    $71.00 - $71.00
    $71.00

    Round Inlaid Ebony Wood Beads (18mm)

    Out of stock

    Brought to you from a village not far from Western Mali, these beautiful ebony wood beads are uniquely inlaid with a traditional tribal pattern usi...

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    $79.00
    $79.00 - $79.00
    $79.00
    $71.00
    $71.00 - $71.00
    $71.00
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  • Inlaid Ebony Tuareg Shield Pendant - The Bead Chest
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    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00

    Inlaid Ebony Tuareg Shield Pendant

    Out of stock

    This ebony pendant was hand-carved from authentic ebony wood by expert artisans in the Mali region. Tuareg people are known for their beautiful woo...

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    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
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  • Inlaid Ebony Tuareg Rectangle Pendant - The Bead Chest
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    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00

    Inlaid Ebony Tuareg Rectangle Pendant

    Out of stock

    This ebony pendant was hand-carved from authentic ebony wood by expert artisans in the Mali region. Tuareg people are known for their beautiful woo...

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    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
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  • Yellow Dotted Inlaid Arabian Prayer Beads - The Bead Chest
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    $35.00 - $35.00
    $35.00
    $35.00
    $35.00 - $35.00
    $35.00

    Yellow Dotted Inlaid Arabian Prayer Beads

    Out of stock

    Evocative of a lost world, these beautiful Arabian prayer beads have been handcrafted by a master artisan. Look carefully and you will see that eac...

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    $35.00 - $35.00
    $35.00
    $35.00
    $35.00 - $35.00
    $35.00
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  • Vintage Coconut Shell Heishi Beads (3mm) (Long Strand) - The Bead Chest
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    $22.50 - $22.50
    $22.50
    $22.50
    $22.50 - $22.50
    $22.50

    Vintage Coconut Shell Heishi Beads (3mm) (Long Strand)

    Out of stock

    Admire this beautiful strand of vintage African beads made of authentic repurposed coconut shell. Fashioned in a heishi shape, this extra long stra...

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    $22.50 - $22.50
    $22.50
    $22.50
    $22.50 - $22.50
    $22.50
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  • Rondelle Black Ebony Arabian Prayer Beads (10mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $18.00 - $18.00
    $18.00
    $18.00
    $18.00 - $18.00
    $18.00

    Rondelle Black Ebony Arabian Prayer Beads (10mm)

    Out of stock

    Evocative of a lost world, these beautiful Arabian prayer beads have been handcrafted by a master artisan using authentic ebony wood. The refined q...

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    $18.00 - $18.00
    $18.00
    $18.00
    $18.00 - $18.00
    $18.00
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  • Tiny Vintage Coconut Heishi Beads (2-5mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $15.00 - $15.00
    $15.00
    $15.00
    $15.00 - $15.00
    $15.00

    Tiny Vintage Coconut Heishi Beads (2-5mm)

    Out of stock

    Beautiful strand of heishi beads made from the natural shell of a coconut. The size of beads may vary slightly from strand to strand. This small si...

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    $15.00 - $15.00
    $15.00
    $15.00
    $15.00 - $15.00
    $15.00
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  • Stripe Inlaid Arabian Prayer Beads - The Bead Chest
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    $37.00 - $37.00
    $37.00
    $37.00
    $37.00 - $37.00
    $37.00

    Stripe Inlaid Arabian Prayer Beads

    Out of stock

    Evocative of a lost world, these beautiful Arabian prayer beads have been handcrafted by a master artisan. Look carefully and you will see that eac...

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    $37.00 - $37.00
    $37.00
    $37.00
    $37.00 - $37.00
    $37.00
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  • Silver Eye Inlaid Arabian Prayer Beads (6mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $39.00 - $39.00
    $39.00
    $39.00
    $39.00 - $39.00
    $39.00

    Silver Eye Inlaid Arabian Prayer Beads (6mm)

    Out of stock

    Evocative of a lost world, these beautiful Arabian prayer beads have been handcrafted by a master artisan. Look carefully and you will see that eac...

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    $39.00 - $39.00
    $39.00
    $39.00
    $39.00 - $39.00
    $39.00
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  • Cylindrical Inlaid Arabian Prayer Beads - The Bead Chest
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    $18.50 - $18.50
    $18.50
    $18.50
    $18.50 - $18.50
    $18.50

    Cylindrical Inlaid Arabian Prayer Beads

    Out of stock

    Evocative of a lost world, these beautiful Arabian prayer beads have been handcrafted by a master artisan. Look carefully and you will see that eac...

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    $18.50 - $18.50
    $18.50
    $18.50
    $18.50 - $18.50
    $18.50
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  • Silver Dotted Inlaid Arabian Prayer Beads - The Bead Chest
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    $39.00 - $39.00
    $39.00
    $39.00
    $39.00 - $39.00
    $39.00

    Silver Dotted Inlaid Arabian Prayer Beads

    Out of stock

    Evocative of a lost world, these beautiful Arabian prayer beads have been handcrafted by a master artisan. Look carefully and you will see that eac...

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    $39.00 - $39.00
    $39.00
    $39.00
    $39.00 - $39.00
    $39.00
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  • Sable Black Wood Beads (Round) - The Bead Chest
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    $18.50 - $18.50
    $18.50
    $18.50
    $18.50 - $18.50
    $18.50

    Sable Black Wood Beads (Round)

    Out of stock

    Beautiful strand of black round wood beads.

    $18.50 - $18.50
    $18.50
    $18.50
    $18.50 - $18.50
    $18.50
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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!

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