African Amber Antique Diamond Shape Bead with Rare View Inside, 34x30mm
African Amber Antique Diamond Shape Bead with Rare View Inside, 34x30mm
African Amber Antique Diamond Shape Bead with Rare View Inside, 34x30mm

African Amber Antique Diamond Shape Bead with Rare View Inside, 34x30mm

SKU: AFE-2075
Sale price $36.00

Shipping calculated at checkout

Out of stock

Description

  • Diamond shape African amber bead, rich, warm amber color with extremely rare swirls of clear resin that give a view deep inside the bead. Sadly I could not capture this well in the photo :( 
  • The bead measures 34x30mm and is plumper than most at 22mm thick
  • This bead is in excellent condition except for signs of excessive asymmetrical wear on of the vertical holes. Can be seen at the bottom of the second image. That situatuon can be remedied if you plan to wear this bead, by inserting a small bead that fits tightly into the opening of that hole. This will keep the bead hanging straight.
  • I offer this bead from my collection to yours...
  • The center holes were drilled so women could wear these in their hair, but they offer us a variety of creative options.
  • 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.
  • Several generations of newer resin beads have followed, some better than others,  but none can approach the beauty and durability of the original phenolic resins which are now almost 100 years old, and wear it well.
  • Only one available