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Bone Beads

  • Original price $38.91
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    White Bone Beads (Large)

    in stock

    Checkout these beautiful White Bone from Kenya, Africa! The strand is approximately 26" long, and each bead is about 23-28mm in diameter. Due to th...

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  • Original price $18.68
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    Current price $12.46
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    Inverted Zig-Zag Batik Bone Beads (Elongated)

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    Checkout these beautiful elongated bone batik beads from Africa! Each strand is approximately 26" long, and the beads measure about 2-3 cm in length.

    Original price $18.68
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  • Original price $38.15
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    Current price $24.91
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    Brass-Inlaid White Bone Mala Beads (8mm)

    in stock

    Take a look at this beautiful strand of handmade prayer beads made from bone, inlaid with brass, and strung as a 108-bead Mala. Each long strand is...

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    Original price $38.15
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  • Original price $21.80
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    Current price $18.68
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    Matte White Bone Mala Beads (8mm)

    in stock

    These high quality Malas each contain 108 rustic beads made of recycled bone. Each bead measures approximately 6-7 x 8mm, with a hole size of 2mm. ...

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    Original price $21.80
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    Black Carved Chevron Bone Mala Beads (6mm)

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    Admire this unique strand of bone mala beads from Nepal. Each bead has been individual carved with a chevron design and measures approximately 6-7m...

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    Original price $21.80 - Original price $21.80
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  • Original price $46.71 - Original price $46.71
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    White Bone Beads (Saucer)

    in stock

    These white bone saucer beads are handcrafted in a fair trade workshop in central Kenya. Each bead is 100% unique and one-of-a-kind. Beads measure ...

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    Original price $46.71 - Original price $46.71
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    Current price $46.71
  • Original price $18.68 - Original price $18.68
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    Tan Nigerian Camel Bone Beads (Disk)

    in stock

    These rustic beads are said to be made using recycled camel bone. Each bead is hand-carved into its initial shape. Some are then patterned through...

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  • Original price $30.36 - Original price $30.36
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    White Carved Disk Bone Beads (10mm)

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    Take a look at this beautiful strand of bone beads fashioned in a special disk shape. Each of these bone beads was hand-carved out of reclaimed cow...

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    Original price $30.36 - Original price $30.36
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    Current price $30.36
  • Original price $21.80 - Original price $21.80
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    Turquoise Bone Button Beads (10mm)

    in stock

    These natural beads are handcrafted by artisans in the Nepal countryside using recycled bone. The beads are in a special disk shape and resemble bu...

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    Original price $21.80 - Original price $21.80
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    Current price $21.80
  • Original price $30.36 - Original price $30.36
    Original price $30.36
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    Current price $30.36

    Dark Cream Carved Disk Bone Beads (8mm)

    in stock

    Take a look at this beautiful strand of bone beads fashioned in a special disk shape. Each of these bone beads was hand-carved out of reclaimed cow...

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    Original price $30.36 - Original price $30.36
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    Current price $30.36
  • Original price $38.15
    Original price $38.15 - Original price $38.15
    Original price $38.15
    Current price $21.80
    $21.80 - $21.80
    Current price $21.80

    Brass-Inlaid White Bone Mala Beads (6mm)

    in stock

    Take a look at this beautiful strand of handmade prayer beads made from bone, inlaid with brass, and strung as a 108-bead mala. Each long strand is...

    View full details
    Original price $38.15
    Original price $38.15 - Original price $38.15
    Original price $38.15
    Current price $21.80
    $21.80 - $21.80
    Current price $21.80
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  • Original price $38.15
    Original price $38.15 - Original price $38.15
    Original price $38.15
    Current price $21.80
    $21.80 - $21.80
    Current price $21.80

    Copper-Inlaid Rustic Bone Mala Beads (6mm)

    in stock

    Take a look at this beautiful strand of handmade prayer beads made from bone, inlaid with copper, and strung as a 108-bead mala. Each long strand i...

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    Original price $38.15
    Original price $38.15 - Original price $38.15
    Original price $38.15
    Current price $21.80
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    Current price $21.80
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  • Original price $30.36 - Original price $30.36
    Original price $30.36
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    Current price $30.36

    White Carved Disk Bone Beads (8mm)

    in stock

    Take a look at this beautiful strand of bone beads fashioned in a special disk shape. Each of these bone beads was handcarved out of reclaimed cow ...

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    Original price $30.36 - Original price $30.36
    Original price $30.36
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    Current price $30.36
  • Original price $15.57 - Original price $15.57
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    Rustic Grey Bone Saucer Beads (6mm)

    in stock

    These natural beads are handcrafted by artisans in the Nepal countryside using recycled bone. The beads are in a special saucer shape. Each bead me...

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    Tan Nigerian Camel Bone Beads (Tube)

    in stock

    These rustic beads are said to be made using recycled camel bone. Each bead is hand-carved into its initial shape. Some are then patterned through...

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    Original price $15.57 - Original price $15.57
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  • Original price $21.80 - Original price $21.80
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    Washed Grey Round Bone Mala Beads (6mm)

    in stock

    This strand of rustic grey bone beads comes from Nepal. Pay attention and you will notice that each bead is 100% unique and has its own character. ...

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    Brown Rustic Bone Mala Beads (6mm)

    in stock

    This strand of rustic brown bone beads comes from Nepal. Pay attention and you will notice that each bead is 100% unique and has its own character....

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  • Original price $35.03 - Original price $35.03
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    White Carved Disk Bone Mala Beads (13mm)

    in stock

    Take a look at this beautiful strand of bone Mala beads fashioned in a special disk shape. Each of these bone beads was hand carved out of reclaime...

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    Current price $35.03
  • Original price $18.68 - Original price $18.68
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    Chevron Batik Bone Beads (Small)

    in stock

    Checkout these beautiful small bone batik from Africa! They are hand dyed beads from Kenya, Africa. The dying method is known as "batik", which is ...

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  • Original price $21.80 - Original price $21.80
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    Beige Carved Chevron Bone Mala Beads (6mm)

    in stock

    Admire this unique strand of bone mala beads from Nepal. Each bead has been individual carved with a chevron design and measures approximately 6-7m...

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    Original price $21.80 - Original price $21.80
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    Current price $21.80
  • Original price $23.35 - Original price $23.35
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    White Bone Mala Disk Beads (10mm)

    in stock

    Check out these earthy strands of Mala Prayer Beads. Bone Malas like these are handcrafted in Nepal and made using recycled animal bones. Every str...

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  • Original price $15.57 - Original price $15.57
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    Black Bone Saucer Beads (6mm)

    in stock

    These natural beads are handcrafted by artisans in the Nepal countryside using recycled bone. The beads are in a special saucer shape. Each bead me...

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    Original price $15.57 - Original price $15.57
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    Current price $15.57
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    Faceted White Bone Beads (12mm)

    in stock

    These unusual bone beads have been fashioned in a fun and whimsical design. Handcrafted by an artisan, each bead has been individually faceted and ...

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    Current price $18.68
  • Original price $15.57 - Original price $15.57
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    Current price $15.57

    White Bone Button Beads (8mm)

    in stock

    These natural beads are handcrafted by artisans in the Nepal countryside using recycled bone. The beads are in a special disk shape and resemble bu...

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    Original price $15.57 - Original price $15.57
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    Current price $15.57
African bone beads come from Ghana, Africa.  The design on the black and white bone beads is created through a dying method known as "batik", which is a wax relief process.  These African beads are strung on raffia and worn as is, but many beaders use these beads as the highlight of their creation.

Natural Bone Beads from Africa

Bone beads have a long history on the African continent. Bone is one of several natural materials that have been available in Africa for millennia including wood, stone, and clay. Bone beads have been made throughout the African continent including East, West, and even South Africa. Historically, bone beads may be made from any number of bone sources including ivory from different kinds of animal tusks or antlers. Other natural materials similar to bone used to make beads include horn, ostrich eggshells, marine and freshwater seashells such as clams, and also coral. Bone is unique among bead making materials due to both its strength and because it can be carved by hand and polished into many different shapes and sizes. Bone is also relatively lighter than similar size beads made from glass or metal.

One of the best-known varieties of bone beads is the Mudcloth Bone Batik from East Africa. Kenya in particular is a major producer of Batik Bone Beads. These beads are usually made from Cow or Water Buffalo bone that is first bleached and then patterned. Patterning is achieved by a special method where wax is used to apply a dye based on any one of a number of traditional geometric patterns. These designs may include stripes, dots, swirls, and other decorative motifs. Because each bead is individually patterned, this gives each piece a unique flair. The variety of different Bone Batik design styles makes these beads a versatile addition to any bead or jewelry designer’s bead chest and adds a great natural touch to any project.

Another type of bone bead that is made in Africa is the Snake Vertebrae bead. Believe or not, these beads are actually made from real snakes! Such vertebrae may be the inspiration for other Snake beads that have been made with glass that capture the same characteristic interlocking shape of real vertebrae. Such beads can be a lot of fun to work with. Likewise, fish vertebrae that tend to be more cylindrical and have also been used to make African Beads. Fish Vertebrae beads are amazingly light to wear and can be integrated into many artistic beaded pieces.
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