Jade
Material: Natural Stone
Jade is a natural stone found in a wide range of colors, with green jade as the most common color. Although jade is often the name given to any hard green stone, nephrite or jadeite are considered to be true jade. Jade is said to bring good luck and to provide wisdom and prosperity.
Japanese Vintage Glass Chain
Material: Glass & Metal
Vintage Japanese green glass is attached together with either gold metal or silver metal links.
Java
Material: Glass
Java beads are lampwork beads made in Java, Indonesia, typically with a barrel shape and a simple pattern.
Kazuri
Material: Clay
Kazuri means “small treasure” in Swahili. It is the name of a bead factory outside of Nairobi where workers receive a fair wage, day care services, access to a medical clinic and health insurance coverage. Kazuri beads are made from clay from the Mt. Kenya area, and are shaped, fired, painted and glazed by hand. Formed as a center to help needy women without income, Kazuri became a factory in the 1980s to train women to produce unique and beautiful clay beads, some with precious metal glaze.
Kenyan Resin
Material: Resin
Modern amber imitations are called “resin beads, which are lighter in weight, brighter in color, and more translucent than African amber. Kenyan resin beads come in oblate, round, and cylindrical shapes.
King
Material: Clay
King beads are Venetian bicone shaped beads that were believed to have been worn by African Kings and tribal chiefs. King beads are still a part of Dipo Initiation ceremonies in Ghana. Yellow King beads symbolize maturity and prosperity. See description of Venetian King or Eye beads.
Labradorite
Material: Natural Stone
Labradorite is a form of feldspar mineral, and was first found in Labrador, Canada. It displays rainbow like colors of an iridescent quality. Labradorite is said to have an ability to reduce anxiety and stress.
Lampwork Glass with Precious Metal Foil
Material: Glass & Precious Metal
A base layer of clear glass is surrounded by a thin layer of precious metal foil, which is then surrounded by a layer of clear glass.
Magnesite Multicolored Heishi
Material: Natural Stone
Magnesite stone is low luster and highly porous. It is often enhanced or dyed into different colors. Deposits of this stone are found in parts of Europe, South Africa and Brazil. These magnesite beads are dyed or enhanced and cut into small heishi shapes.
Malachite in Black Matrix
Material: Natural Stone
Malachite is a stone with dark and light green bands. Malachite is said to be the stone to guard travelers and provide peace, love, power and business success.
Mali Hand-Stamped Clay Spindle Whorls
Material: Clay
Mali hand-stamped clay beads were originally used as spindle whorls for spinning wheels, and were used to spin cotton, wool, yarn and other threads. Modern replicas come in a variety of shapes but are individually carved and stamped with traditional decorations, geometric patterns and designs. Once the beads are fired, they are dipped into a white chalk, now often ground freshwater shells, which gives the indented carved patterns a white color. Any excess white is wiped off of the bead before it dries on the colored part. These beads are often black, dark brown, or light brown, depending on the type of clay that is used to make them. The clay is pounded and sieved into finer and finer pieces and pieces of old clay pots are often added to the clay mixture for additional “strength.”
Montana Moss Agate
Material: Natural Stone
Montana moss agate or Yellowstone agate is found in the alluvial gravels of the Yellowstone River in Montana.
Mood
Material: Polymer
A throwback to the 1960’s and 1970’s, mood beads change color when you touch them depending on your “mood.” Modern mood beads are lightweight, hollow, polymer beads that are thermo-sensitive and change color.
Mumbai Clay
Material: Clay
Mumbai clay beads are handmade in Mumbai, India.
Lava Stone
Material: Natural Stone
Lava Stone beads are formed from the magna from volcanoes and are created under intense heat conditions making them unique and interesting stones.
Lucite
Material: Lucite
Lucite is a polymer that refers to many plastic beads. DuPont chemists discovered Lucite in 1931 and it was heavily used in WWII. Many vintage Lucite pieces were made in Europe after WWII.
Malachite Turquoise Chrysoscolla in Matrix
Material: Natural Stone
These stones consist of malachite, turquoise and chrysocolla minerals combined.
Matrix
Material: Natural Stone
Matrix is a rock in which minerals and stones are embedded. Minerals and rocks are referred to being in “matrix.”
Matrix Tourmaline
Material: Natural Stone
Matrix tourmaline is a is a crystal boron silicate mineral in matrix. Colors include blues, browns, blacks, reds, pinks and yellows, and are determined by the amount of iron, magnesium and lithium. Some tourmaline forms are diachronic, changing color when viewed from different angles.
Mauritanian Amber
Material: Resin
This antique African amber was once used as ornaments in the hair of women in Mauritania. These pieces signified celebration of special occasionssuch as weddings, and feature stringing holes.
African amber remains one of the most popular beads from the African trade. Imported into Africa during the 1700s, African amber beads have different shapes associated with different African regions. Made from resin, not fossilized tree resin, African amber beads have been handed down from generation to generation. African amber is often found in cherry, black, brown, yellow, orange and dark honey with fine black crack lines.
Metalwork & Enamel from Afghanistan
Material: Metal & Enamel
These unique metalwork and enamel beads from Afghanistan have intricate designs and traditional blue enamel.
Nephrite Jade
Material: Natural Stone
One of the two stones considered to be true jade. Canada is the principal source of nephrite jade but it is also found in several countries, including China and New Zealand.
Nigerian Brass "Boule"
Material: Brass
Boule brass beads are hollow centered brass beads made in Nigeria. Many Boule beads are made in the lost-wax casting technique.
Nigerian Silver
Material: Sillvery & Alloy
Nigerian silver, such as these bead caps, is made of metal alloy and silver.
Onyx
Material: Natural Stone
Onyx is a black stone that is said to signify strength, tenacity, courage and self-control.
Peridot
Material: Natural Stone
Peridot is a natural stone that is only found in green, ranging from a yellowish-green to a dark olive or brownish-green. The stone’s color depends on the amount of iron found in the crystal. Peridot is likely to have come from the Arabic word “faidat,” meaning “gem.”
Opal Stone
Material: Silica
Opals are a form of silica, not mineral. Opals diffract light so that they appear to change colors. Opals are said to signify healing and ward off depression.
Ostrich Egg Shell
Material: Ostrich Egg Shell
Ostrich egg shell beads are speckled white rondelles made from African ostriches. Often referred to as “heishi” beads because of their beads’ small and uniform disc shape.
Picture Agate
Material: Natural Stone
Agate is a natural stone, that is used widely and found in various parts of the world. Agate is said to be a stone of strength, enhancing creativity and providing balance and precision.
Agate is formed in volcanic rock and is made of chalcedony. The colors of agate are influenced by changes in pressure, temperature, and mineral content that occur during the formation process.
Obsidian
Material: Glass
Obsidian is naturally formed glass formed when lava cools without crystal growth. Obsidian is usually dark in color–black with white or brown with black. Black with white obsidian is called snowflake obsidian. Obsidian is said to be a protective stone that provides a shield against negative feelings.
Old Czech Glass
Material: Glass
Czech beads were very popular in the African trade as currency and are known as kankanmba beads. These old beads often have deep colors with random swirls. Old Czech glass beads of various colors and shapes are from various West African countries.
Raw Emeralds
Material: Natural Stone
Emeralds are natural green stones that are said to encourage clear vision, healing and love.
Raw Rubies
Material: Natural Stone
Rubies are one of the oldest known gem stones. Rubies come from the natural stone red corundum, and any other color of corundum is referred to as sapphires. Ruby comes from the Latin word “rubber, ” meaning “red.”
Recycled Glass from Africa
Material: Glass
Powder glass beads have been in use for centuries in West Africa. Glass is poured into molds and baked in kilns at low temperatures creating a textured finish. Recycled glass and broken beads are ground into a powder. These often come from Ghana.
Planter's Glass
Material: Glass
Planter’s beads are glass beads that are baked at low heat in kilns dug into the ground, so they are referred to as “planter beads” because they are “planted” and come from the ground.
Porcelain
Material: Ceramic
Porcelain is a ceramic material made by mixing raw materials, including clay, in kiln at temperatures between 1,200 degrees to 1,400 degrees Celsius.
Rhinestones & Spacers
Material: Metal, Crystal, Glass, Acrylic
Rhinestones are often featured in Andie K designs in silver metal spacers of various shapes and sizes, with tiny hand-placed rhinestones. Rhinestones are made with crystal, glass, or acrylics and typically have a foil or metal back to reflect light, which is not the case for crystal.
Polished African Horn
Material: Horn
African horn rondelles are typically made from buffalo but can also be made from cattle, sheep, and camels. These rondelles are highly polished and are seen in black, cream, honey, burgundy, and brown.
Quartz Agate
Material: Natural Stone
Quartz agate has bands of silicone dioxide alternating with layers of crystalline quartz.
Rock Crystal
Material: Natural Stone
Rock crystal is a colorless and transparent quartz variety. The word crystal comes from the Greek word for ice. This stone is said to have healing properties and enhance psychic abilities.
Rock Crystal in Matrix
Material: Natural Stone
Rock crystal in matrix is rock crystal embedded in ground rock.
Rock Crystal with Green Inclusions
Material: Natural Stone
Rock Crystal with green inclusions has fine green minerals embedded in the crystal, showing green color that catches the light.
Rose Quartz
Material: Natural Stone
Rose quartz, translucent natural stone, is only found in pink. It is said to stand for universal love.
Rubberized Resin
Material: Resin
Lightweight beads with an acrylic core and a resilient, silky-smooth feel to the outside of the beads.
Serpentine Stones
Material: Natural Stone
Serpentine stones contain various minerals that determine their color. For centuries serpentine has been used for jewelry, carvings and even building materials. Serpentine’s most commonly found color is olive green, and its naturally scaly appearance is the basis for the name “serpentine rock.”
Silver Metal with Rhinestones
Material: Metal, Crystal, Glass, Acrylic
Silver metal beads with tiny hand-placed rhinestones.
Rhinestones are made with crystal, glass, or acrylics and typically have a foil or metal back to reflect light, which is not the case for crystal.
Smoky Quartz
Material: Mineral
Smoky quartz ranges in color from grey to brown. Smoky quartz is said to symbolize cooperation and has a calming effect.
Snowflake Obsidian
Material: Glass
Obsidian is naturally formed glass formed when lava cools without crystal growth. Obsidian is usually dark in color–black with white or brown with black. Black with white obsidian (above) is called snowflake obsidian. Obsidian is said to be a protective stone that provides a shield against negative feelings.
Soapstone
Material: Natural Stone
Soap stone has been used for carvings, inlaid designs and sculpture. Some softer forms of soap stone may feel soapy, which is the basis for the name. Soap stone is also widely used as a building interior finish.
Striped Agate
Material: Natural Stone
Striped agate is a form of agate with stripes of brown, black, cream and white colors. Agate is formed in volcanic rock and sometimes exhibits parallel lines which are several layers of silicone, deposited over many years. This type of agate is called banded agate, ribald agate or striped agate.
Synthetic Lemon Quartz
Material: Synthetic Quartz
A synthetic material made to look like lemon quartz.