Rare and Lovely Striped Kiffa Bead from Mauritania antique India Irregular 10-11mm diameter with 3-4mm

Irregular 10-11mm diameter with 3-4mm hole

about 100 years old

Photo shows five beads and their variety of shape and design

Medium size silver Berber engraved pendant with swirl

and 11mm diameter

Rare and Lovely Striped Kiffa Bead from Mauritania antique India Irregular 10-11mm diameter with 3-4mmThis very cool and magical bead was made in Kiffa, Mauritania. It is very old and was made as a female fertility charm, mainly by women artists. Historically, Kiffa beads are very important as its ancient technique (dating to 1000 years ago) made it one of the oldest glass bead making processes in Africa, which was purely African in origin. This bead is around 200 years old, possibly older; 11mm diameter. Fabricated to mimic a popular Venetian bead