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Antique Rustic Heishi Ostrich Egg Shell Beads from West Africa - Rita Okrent Collection (AT0643m)

Size and Shape: 4-9mm round edges

Antique Rustic Fossilized Ostrich Shell Beads, from the African Trade. Available in rounded edges or polygonal shapes.

The use of ostrich egg shell to make these "heishi" disks is a South African tradition dating back 20,000 years.
Strings of Ostrich eggshell beads are still worn at all ritual ceremonies by San in the Kalahari who believe that they have supernatural potency. Women make the beads and string them and they are valued items for gift exchange.

Our inventory of ostrich shell beads comes via the West African trade.

Please read: Bead shapes are rough edged polygonal in the Mixed Sized and Shape strands. The Round Edged strand beads are more round than polygonal but still a bit rough and the beads vary on width and size.

Strand length is pretty consistent at 29 inches of beads, not counting raffia.

Bead sizes on strands range, some are all smaller (4-11mm) and some range more (4-17mm). Bead hole size approximately 1mm.

Good condition, each strand uniquely nice.

The strands in the photos are representative of current stock. Yours will be very similar.

African Item 0643m




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