Sorry, but these are too unique and well-matched to be separated, at least by me. If you only want one, find a friend to share the pair with.
Gorgeous aged dark amber with decorative cracks and slightly wavy edges. These likely came from the same strand as JSD-956 and would pair stunningly with it.
Beads like these are extremely rare and will not be seen again. They were made and exported to Africa during a short period of time, only about 30 years.
They were instantly and enthusiastically adopted by the women of northwest Africa, who cared for them as they developed the rich depth of color and patina that only comes with age and is impossible fake.
The material these vintage/antique beads are made of is an early synthetic called phenolic thermosetting resin. It was developed in 1910. Bakelite is the best known brand among several European manufacturers producing faux amber beads, jewelry and household products before World War II.
Phenolic resin amber beads probably started coming to Africa as a substitute for real Baltic amber in the 1920s and 1930s and trade lasted into the 1950s according to recent research by Rosanna Falabella.
From the collection of Joyce Diamanti, world traveler, bead collector, researcher, editor, writer and educator.
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