{"product_id":"african-amber-extra-large-diamond-shape-medium-amber-color-40x40mm","title":"African Amber, Extra Large Diamond Shape, Medium Amber Color, 40x40mm","description":"\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAntique African amber bead, extra large and perfectly symmetrical at 40x40mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThis beautiful bead has acquired some nicks and dents in its long and adventurous life, but no burns or cracks or other damage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePhenolic 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.\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeveral 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.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFrom the collection of Joyce Diamanti, bead researcher, writer and educator\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Beadazzled.com","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53223942750517,"sku":"JSD-982","price":69.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0269\/4388\/1301\/files\/JSD-982Beadazzled.com.jpg?v=1785289348","url":"https:\/\/www.beadazzled.com\/products\/african-amber-extra-large-diamond-shape-medium-amber-color-40x40mm","provider":"Beadazzled.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}