African Amber, Extra Large Diamond Shape, Medium Amber Color, 40x40mm
SKU: JSD-982
Sale price
$69.00
Shipping calculated at checkout
Out of stock
Description
- Antique African amber bead, extra large and perfectly symmetrical at 40x40mm
- The holes at the pointy ends show smooth cone shaped wear, testifying to long usage in a necklace. If held up to a light at the right angle you can see straight through the bead on a narrow band of almost clear resin. All in all , this is a serious collectors' piece or designer's inspiration.
- The center holes were drilled so women could wear these in their hair, but they also offer us a variety of creative options for designing with them today.
- This beautiful bead has acquired some nicks and dents in its long and adventurous life, but no burns or cracks or other damage.
- 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.
- From the collection of Joyce Diamanti, bead researcher, writer and educator