Blue Kiffa Bead, Imitating Cowry Shell African Wonderful antique Coral bead from

Wonderful antique Coral bead from Nigeria

These Dutch-made glass beads where made in the 1700s and traded in Africa

6 grams and has many cylindrical shaped beads

Strand of rich dark amber bi-color quartz briolettes 10-32mm long x 3mm thick

Handcut and faceted in India

Blue Kiffa Bead, Imitating Cowry Shell African Wonderful antique Coral bead fromThis very cool bead was made in Kiffa, Mauritania. It is very old and was made as a female fertility charm to resemble a cowry shell, mainly by women artists. Historically, Kiffa beads are very important as its ancient technique (dating to 1000 years ago) made it one of the oldest glass bead making processes in Africa, which was purely African in origin. This bead is around 200 years old, possibly older. 12 17mm tall x 9 13mm wide x 6mm thick with a