Rare and Lovely Striped Kiffa Bead from Mauritania spacer Two sets in stock

Two sets in stock

195 pearls per strand

but could be coin silver

17mm x 12mm x 4mm

and have such character

Rare and Lovely Striped Kiffa Bead from Mauritania spacer Two sets in stockThis very cool and magical bead was made in Kiffa, Mauritania. It is very old and was made as a female fertility charm, 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; 11mm diameter. Fabricated to mimic a popular Venetian bead