{"product_id":"mauritanian-shell-beads-30-inch-154141","title":"Mauritanian Shell Beads 30 Inch","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThese are increasingly rare...in Mauritania, these are carefully matched and worn on their own and in combination with glass beads.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe term \"Trade Beads\" typically applies to beads made predominantly in Venice and Bohemia and other European countries from the late 1400s through to the early 1900s and traded in Africa and the Americas. Many of these beads have been attributed to being made in Germany, France and the Netherlands as well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe popularity of these beads was revived in the late 1960s when they began to be exported from Africa into the United States and Europe. The term \"Trade Beads\" became very popular during this time period and is still used for the same bead reference today. The millefiori beads were also called \"Love Beads\" and used in necklaces with peace symbols during the Hippie days.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd today these beads are more popular and collectable than ever. Thousands of these beads are in private collections around the world. The African Traders are having to go deeper and deeper into Africa to find more of these beads and many styles which were readily available just 5 years ago are no longer seen today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the most intriguing aspects to these beads is how they have survived a hundred or more years of wear and the travel through at least three continents. Another mystery is who wore them before us who will have them next.......after us.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis strand is not intended to be a ready-to-wear necklace. Although the strand can be worn \"as is,\" the raffia holding it together is not durable and may break with use. For this reason, we recommend that you restring the beads before wearing them.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"Polaris-Box\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_ActivatorWrapper_xxurb_91\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"PRODUCT.metafields.global.Strand_Length-anchor\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_ActivatorButton_xxurb_95\" aria-label=\"Edit Strand Length metafield\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_RowWrapper_xxurb_22\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_HoverContainer_xxurb_8\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_FormFieldLabel_xxurb_48\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"Polaris-Text--root Polaris-Text--bodyMd\"\u003eStrand Length: 30 inches (including string\/raffia)\u003cbr\u003eBead Size: 13-22 mm diameter. See picture with ruler for size comparison.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e154141\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"sku 154000","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51238667583783,"sku":"154141","price":36.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0826\/1015\/9911\/files\/IMG_0744_51602533-c629-4b06-8ed7-7c5069fcd6f1.jpg?v=1775238741","url":"https:\/\/africadirect.com\/products\/mauritanian-shell-beads-30-inch-154141","provider":"Africa Direct","version":"1.0","type":"link"}