SKU: 150178
Tiny Clamshell Heishi Beads
Bead Size: 2-3 mm diameter. See picture with penny for size comparison. U.S. penny is 19mm in diameter.
$33.00
Description
The name Heishi‚ comes to us from the Santo Domingo and San Felipe Pueblo Indians of New Mexico, and can be translated as shell bead. The earliest recorded beads were made using the Heishi technique. Heishi are produced by perforating shell fragments, threading them on wire, and then grinding them into disk shapes against a stone. Whereas Heishi originally referred only to shell beads made with this technique, the term is now applied to disk-shaped beads made from almost any natural material.
This 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.
Strand Length:
24 inches (includes string/raffia)
Bead Size:
2-3 mm diameter. See picture with penny for size comparison. U.S. penny is 19mm in diameter.
150178
Approximate Age: 20th Century
Country of Origin: Africa
Length Details
Strand Length: 24 inches (includes string/raffia)
Size Details
Bead Size: 2-3 mm diameter. See picture with penny for size comparison. U.S. penny is 19mm in diameter.
Material
Material: shell
Condition
Overall Condition: Good. Some of our beads have traveled at least three continents, and have graced numerous owners. Small chips, corrosion, and pitting are a normal part of their patina attesting to their age and extensive use.