Ancient and old African Beads

ANCIENT AND OLD BEADS FROM AFRICA

Red jasper Beads from Nigeria

The beads in
my collection
are now for sale

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AFB 1 - 31 * 27 mm
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From the Kings of Benin and Ife 1000 to 1300 A.D.

AFB - SAHARAN METEORITE BEAD - 35 * 18 mm
This extraordinary 35 mm bead comes from the vast expanse of the Sahara Desert and is crafted from a naturally formed, iron-rich meteorite. Strongly magnetic and capable of scratching glass, its extreme hardness speaks to its celestial origin. The bead is not a broken fragment but appears fully intact, with an organically aerodynamic shape formed during its fiery descent through Earth’s atmosphere. As you can observe on the illustration above, on one side, a flat, subtly polished surface reveals the wear of centuries spent resting on the Saharan crust — a quiet testament to time and exposure.

At each end, shallow hand-drilled holes—only about 5 mm deep—suggest the difficulty of working such a hard material, likely deterring full perforation. Still, these partial drillings hint at its intended use as an amulet or bead, treasured for both its rarity and power. This is not only a relic of the cosmos but also a silent echo of human reverence: a star-born object, shaped by fire, held by earth, and touched by human intention.

AFB - 18 * 15 mm
African Jaspagate

VAB 18,5 * 17 mm
African Jaspagate

AFB - 16 * 15 mm
This rare bead is crafted from manganese-stained chalcedony, a microcrystalline quartz distinguished by its soft reddish-pink hue and subtle translucency. Unlike the vivid orange tones of Indian carnelian, this Sub-Saharan variant displays an earthy, muted elegance, likely formed through natural iron and manganese oxide infusion. Scattered dark inclusions and gentle surface polish enhance its organic character. The stone’s color and texture suggest local sourcing and traditional heat treatment, common in ancient African bead-making practices. Its distinct coloration sets it apart from trade-standard agates, making it a unique relic of regional geology and cultural craftsmanship, both understated and deeply evocative.

VAB - 17,5 * 16,5 mm
Same as above

From the Kings of Benin and Ife 1000 to 1300 A.D.

Amazonite bead

AFB 2 - 52 * 33 mm
'Primitive' Amazonite bead from Mali
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OLD BERBER FATURAN AMBER BEADS

Faturan 1 - 647 gram
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Faturan 2 - 621 gram

Faturan 3 - 740 gram

Faturan 4 - 464 gram

FULANI BEADS

AFB 3 - 131 * 43 *38 mm
Huge white agate bead -
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These beads are the largest in my entire collection. Most probably they come from the semi nomadic Fulani tribe. They are even today used as a sign of high status, very much the same way western urban people to day wear rolex watches. They are made with an ancient technique: posihed on a wet stone and drilled by hand. The ancient origin of these beads can be traced back to the caravan routes leading to India. They were later made locally. As you can observe in the patina on these beads, the large bead below is probably much older than the one above.

AFB 4 - 111 * 47 * 37 mm

AFB 5 - 73 * 27 mm

AFB 6 - 51 * 22 mm

AFB 7 - 35 * 17 mm

The two last small beads have been sourced in Namibia from the Himba tribe. That shows how beads are great travelers and do not only stick to a particular tribe as ornaments and signs of status.

AFB 8 - 49 * 29 * 27 mm

AFB 9 - 77 * 27 mm

AFB 10 - 109 * 34 mm

AFB 11 - 63 * 40 mm

These large beads are most probably from India. Displayed in the section Carnelian & Sardonyx Beads you will find a similar bead sourced from North West India.