Old Kiffa Bead from Mauritania spinel 16mm long X 22mm diameter

16mm long X 22mm diameter

pre-1950’s

uniformly shaped African amber beads

A pair of wonderfully lumpy antique coin silver (90% pure) spacer beads from Yemen

Color is a subtle soft peach-pink with some matrix and natural inclusions

Old Kiffa Bead from Mauritania spinel 16mm long X 22mm diameterThis very unusual and rare bead was made in Kiffa, Mauritania. It is very old and was made by women. A striking design with bright orange core and multiple eyes. Wonderful colorful lines of color. 9mm diameter x 7mm tall. 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,