African Amber, Diamond Shape, 30x25mm,
SKU: AFE-897
Sale price
$25.00
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Only 1 in stock
Description
- Antique African amber diamond shaped bead 30x25mm with center hole that might only be decorative, not going all the way through
- The hole that goes from one pointy end to the other looks like it may have been lined with metal at one time to protect the hole from excessive wear. On th other end it seems partially blocked possibly by a residue of that metal or a wire that it was once strung on. I'm sure the hole could be drilled out, but I'm discounting this bead anyway.
- The center holes were drilled so women could wear these beads in their hair.
- 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, at a variety of prices, but none can approach the beauty and durability of the original phenolic resins which are now almost 100 years old, and wear it well.