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Clay Beads

  • Mali Clay Beads (4 Strands) - The Bead Chest
    $18.06 - $18.06
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    Mali Clay Beads (4 Strands)

    in stock

    With their rich, earthy terracotta and brown tones, these tiny 3mm Mali Clay Beads are extremely versatile for 'nature' and 'eco' inspired projects...

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    $18.06 - $18.06
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  • Mali Clay Beads (Red) - The Bead Chest
    $9.78 - $9.78
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    Mali Clay Beads (Red)

    in stock

    The individual beads in this strand of tiny African clay trade beads measure approximately 3 mm in diameter! The strand is in good condition. The l...

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    $9.78 - $9.78
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  • Jungle Medley Patterned Mini Terracotta Beads - The Bead Chest
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    $39.14
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    Jungle Medley Patterned Mini Terracotta Beads

    Out of stock

    Admire these terracotta beads which are hand-patterned, inspired by traditional motifs. If you look closely you will see the unique multi-color ton...

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    $39.14
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    $18.06
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  • Amazonite Moroccan Pottery Beads (Round - 12mm) - The Bead Chest
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    Amazonite Moroccan Pottery Beads (Round - 12mm)

    in stock

    These amazonite green pottery beads are characteristic of Berber jewelry from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Individual bead sizes may vary slight...

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  • Amazonite Moroccan Pottery Beads (Cylinder) - The Bead Chest
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    $12.80
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    $9.03
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    Amazonite Moroccan Pottery Beads (Cylinder)

    in stock

    These amazonite green pottery beads are characteristic of Berber jewelry from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Individual bead sizes may vary slight...

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    $12.80
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    $9.03
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  • Rouge Red Moroccan Pottery Beads (Cylinder) - The Bead Chest
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    $12.80
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    $9.03
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    Rouge Red Moroccan Pottery Beads (Cylinder)

    in stock

    These red pottery beads are characteristic of Berber jewelry from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Individual bead sizes may vary slightly but measu...

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    $12.80
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    $9.03
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  • Patterned Brown Terracotta Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $31.61
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    Patterned Brown Terracotta Beads (14mm)

    in stock

    Amazing strand of brown color patterned terracotta beads. Beautifully handcrafted, each bead may have a different number of stripes evocative of a ...

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    $31.61
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  • Beige Medley Pharaonic Pottery Beads - The Bead Chest
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    Beige Medley Pharaonic Pottery Beads

    Out of stock

    Admire these beautiful beads sometimes referred to as pharaonic pottery beads. Handmade by skilled artisans in the North African country of Egypt, ...

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    $13.55 - $13.55
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  • Clay Buddha Prayer Beads with Gold Leaf (11mm) - The Bead Chest
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    Clay Buddha Prayer Beads with Gold Leaf (11mm)

    in stock

    These unusual beads are a traditional craft of Southeast Asia. Look carefully and you will see that each handmade bead has been decorated with a st...

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    $51.18 - $51.18
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  • Terracotta Black & White Scratch Beads (12mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $33.12
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    $21.08
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    Terracotta Black & White Scratch Beads (12mm)

    in stock

    Amazing strand of Black & White Terracotta Beads. Beautifully hand crafted, each bead may have a different number of stripes. However, the size...

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    $33.12
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    $21.08
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  • Yellow Pharaonic Pottery Beads - The Bead Chest
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    Yellow Pharaonic Pottery Beads

    Out of stock

    Admire these beautiful beads sometimes referred to as pharaonic pottery beads. Handmade by skilled artisans in the North African country of Egypt, ...

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    $13.55 - $13.55
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  • Terracotta Black & White Scratch Beads (16mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $37.63
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    $33.12
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    Terracotta Black & White Scratch Beads (16mm)

    Out of stock

    Amazing strand of Black & White Terracotta Beads. Beautifully hand crafted, each bead may have a different number of stripes. However, the size...

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    $37.63
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  • Crimson & Black Pharaonic Pottery Beads - The Bead Chest
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    Crimson & Black Pharaonic Pottery Beads

    Out of stock

    Admire these beautiful beads sometimes referred to as pharaonic pottery beads. Handmade by skilled artisans in the North African country of Egypt, ...

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    $13.55 - $13.55
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  • Amazonite Moroccan Pottery Beads (Rectangle) - The Bead Chest
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    Amazonite Moroccan Pottery Beads (Rectangle)

    in stock

    These amazonite color greenish pottery beads are characteristic of Berber jewelry from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Individual bead sizes may va...

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    $12.80 - $12.80
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  • Turquoise Moroccan Pottery Beads (Chunk) - The Bead Chest
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    Turquoise Moroccan Pottery Beads (Chunk)

    in stock

    These turquoise pottery beads are characteristic of Berber jewelry from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Individual bead sizes may vary slightly but...

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  • Natural Pharaonic Pottery Beads - The Bead Chest
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    Natural Pharaonic Pottery Beads

    Out of stock

    Admire these beautiful beads sometimes referred to as pharaonic pottery beads. Handmade by skilled artisans in the North African country of Egypt, ...

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    $13.55 - $13.55
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  • Red Terracotta French Cross Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
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    Red Terracotta French Cross Beads (14mm)

    Out of stock

    Great strand of Red & White Terracotta french cross beads. Beautifully hand crafted, each bead may have a different number of dots. However, th...

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    $37.63
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  • Black Pharaonic Pottery Beads - The Bead Chest
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    Black Pharaonic Pottery Beads

    Out of stock

    Admire these beautiful beads sometimes referred to as pharaonic pottery beads. Handmade by skilled artisans in the North African country of Egypt, ...

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    $13.55 - $13.55
    $13.55
    $13.55
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  • Terracotta Black & White French Cross Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $43.51
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    Terracotta Black & White French Cross Beads (14mm)

    in stock

    Amazing strand of Black & White Terracotta french cross beads. Beautifully hand crafted, each bead may have a different number of dots. However...

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    $43.51
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  • Bright Aqua Moroccan Pottery Beads (Nugget) - The Bead Chest
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    Bright Aqua Moroccan Pottery Beads (Nugget)

    Out of stock

    These bright aqua nugget-shaped pottery beads are characteristic of Berber jewelry from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Individual bead sizes may v...

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    $21.08 - $21.08
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  • Red Terracotta Polka Dot Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
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    Red Terracotta Polka Dot Beads (14mm)

    Out of stock

    Beautifully made Terracotta beads, resembles the older Italian Red Sunk beads which were trade in Africa in the late 1800 early 1900. Original one...

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  • Serpentine Green Moroccan Pottery Beads (Nugget) - The Bead Chest
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    Serpentine Green Moroccan Pottery Beads (Nugget)

    Out of stock

    These deep green nugget-shaped serpentine color pottery beads are characteristic of Berber jewelry from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Individual ...

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    $21.08 - $21.08
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  • Fired Mali Clay Bicone Beads - The Bead Chest
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    Fired Mali Clay Bicone Beads

    Out of stock

    Take a look at this exceptional strand of black colored terracotta beads from Mali. Beautifully hand crafted, each bead may show slight variation i...

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  • Light Green Egyptian Scarab Pendant (38x25mm) - The Bead Chest
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    Light Green Egyptian Scarab Pendant (38x25mm)

    Out of stock

    Take a moment to appreciate this stunning Light Green Egyptian Scarab Pendant. Scarabs are considered sacred in ancient Egyptian culture. This pend...

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    $12.04 - $12.04
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African Clay Beads are among the earliest bead formats known to man, many archeological finds pre-dating the famous shell hoard of the Blombus Cave on Africa's Southern Cape by as much as 20,000 years. But while tribes in the South and West of Africa have a long affiliation with clay bead production, it is the Dogon tribes of Bandiagara in Mali who are modernly revered for their beautiful black clay creations. Distinguished by their charcoal coloration and elaborate milgrain-like detailing, Mali Clay Spindle Whorl Beads were originally intended for use as currency among trans-Saharan merchants. Their value to merchants was determined by their coloration – the darker the beads, the higher their net worth.

Clay Beads from Mali are distinguishable from other beads in Africa by their coloration. Most natural clay found in Africa is of a reddish-brown hue, however, in the cliffs of Bandiagara, it is near black. Modern crafters often manipulate the hue by adding ground ash, charcoal and the remnants of other pottery or china to the ground down clay mixture. Water, oil and tree gum are added to the mixture to help it adhere during firing, and the clay is then fashioned into a conical spindle whorl shape. Designs are carved into the surface using a hacksaw blade or shard of glass, and the beads are then fired in an open charcoal brazier. Once cool, they are immersed in a whitewash several times before they are left to dry. Excess paint is gently rubbed off using a cloth, leaving just the carved areas decorated. Red clay beads produced by the Zarma people are made using a very similar technique, but although beautiful, they aren't nearly as popular as their black counterparts.