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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!

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Dark Brown Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm) - The Bead Chest
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

Dark Brown Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm)

in stock

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

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$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
White Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm) - The Bead Chest
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

White Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm)

in stock

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

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$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
Black Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm) - The Bead Chest
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

Black Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm)

in stock

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

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$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
Cherry Red Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$5.99
$5.99 - $5.99
$5.99

Cherry Red Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm)

Out of stock

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

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$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$5.99
$5.99 - $5.99
$5.99
Sold out
Cream Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm) - The Bead Chest
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

Cream Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm)

in stock

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

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$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
Gold Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm) - The Bead Chest
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

Gold Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm)

in stock

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

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$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
Olive Green Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm) - The Bead Chest
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

Olive Green Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm)

in stock

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

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$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
Light Blue Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm) - The Bead Chest
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

Light Blue Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm)

in stock

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

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$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
Azul Blue Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm) - The Bead Chest
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

Azul Blue Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm)

in stock

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

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$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
Copper Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm) - The Bead Chest
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

Copper Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm)

in stock

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

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$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
Brown Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm) - The Bead Chest
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

Brown Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm)

in stock

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

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$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
Mint Green Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm) - The Bead Chest
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

Mint Green Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm)

in stock

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

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$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
Grey Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm) - The Bead Chest
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

Grey Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm)

in stock

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

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$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
Light Grey Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm) - The Bead Chest
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

Light Grey Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm)

in stock

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

View full details
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
Green Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm) - The Bead Chest
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

Green Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm)

in stock

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

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$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
Silver Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm) - The Bead Chest
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

Silver Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm)

in stock

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

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$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
Pink Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm) - The Bead Chest
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

Pink Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm)

in stock

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

View full details
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
Light Brown Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm) - The Bead Chest
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

Light Brown Diamond Cut Natural Wood Beads (17mm)

in stock

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

View full details
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
Round Inlaid Ebony Wood Beads (18mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$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
Sold out
Vintage Ethiopian Wooden Prayer Beads (Round) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
$15.00
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00

Vintage Ethiopian Wooden Prayer Beads (Round)

Out of stock

This exceptional strand of antique wood prayer beads was in the Amhara region of Northern Ethiopia. This type of bead is typically worn in the rur...

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$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
$15.00
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
Sold out
Antique Wood & Shell Prayer Beads (Long Strand) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$25.00
$25.00 - $25.00
$25.00
$19.00
$19.00 - $19.00
$19.00

Antique Wood & Shell Prayer Beads (Long Strand)

Out of stock

This exceptional strand of antique wood and shell prayer beads was in the Amhara region of Northern Ethiopia. This type of bead is typically worn i...

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$25.00
$25.00 - $25.00
$25.00
$19.00
$19.00 - $19.00
$19.00
Sold out