Blue Kiffa Bead, Imitating Cowry Shell African Strands are a mix of

Strands are a mix of light and dark brass

Very light blue

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

000 year old Roman era glass of mixed colors from cobalt to seafoam

Average size is 15mm in diameter with inner diameter of 7mm

Blue Kiffa Bead, Imitating Cowry Shell African Strands are a mix ofThis 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