Wedding Beads, African Antique Czech Glass Trade Beads, 24" Strands
SKU: AFT-171
Sale price
$175.00
Shipping calculated at checkout
Only 3 in stock
Description
- Perfect strands of African Wedding Beads, aka Lightbulb beads, 24" strands
- These are the antique large drops 24mm long and 14mm wide at the bulb
- These are the most perfect high-graded strands I've seen in years. Every bead is perfect, nothing's broken or chipped and no other bead shapes are mixed in
- Made in Bohemia (now Czech Republic) during the 1800s to early 1900s
- Traded to Africa where they became especially popular among the Fulani of Mali.
- I've heard two stories about why they are called Wedding beads: a) they are passed from mother to daughter at the latter's marriage, b) they are worn by drummers who perform at Fulani weddings.
- The section with beads is 24 inches long with 75 perfect beads
- The are neatly strung with an additional 4 inches of cotton wrapped cord on either side so they can be worn as is, or rearranged into your own great designs
- Sometimes I like to use almost a whole strand, and sometimes just a few of these in the center of a necklace finished it off with simple black coconut shell, vinyl, or plain color glass beads. The design possibilities are endless.