Tambas: The Versatile Seed Bead Accessory
A "Tamba" is a collection of multi-stranded European glass seed beads, commonly known as "hanks." The beads are made in Italy and the necklaces are then assembled in Africa, generally by the Baule people. They were traditionally worn around the waist by women in the Ivory Coast during the pre to early 1900s, and they hold significant value among collectors. Today they can be worn as necklaces or belts, used for beadwork projects, or simply for collecting and admiring.
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