Nature, Wood, Shells

Coral

Coral the skeleton of a Sea creature is made of calcium carbonate and grows in warm, shallow waters. These are many varieties in Coral, Apple coral, Tiger coral, but the most popular is the Dark Red.

Shells

Shells have been around for thousands of years, necklaces of shells have been found dating back to the Neolithic age. They have naturally been used for decoration. The Cowry shells in India are believed to ward off the evil eye, and from earliest times in Africa cowries were used as currency, in Egyptian and Maasai cultures were considered to be a fertility symbol. Pierced discs from seashells and strung together as a necklace are called 'Ashisha' in West Africa.

Ostrich Shell

Ostrich Shell disks are commonly used in adornment. They are found all over Africa but are mainly from Kenya. These ostrich egg shell disks are associated with Bushmen.

Wood

Wood has had various uses since man's earliest beginnings. Wood is easy to work, and lends itself to beautiful creations. It varies in colours, texture, fragrance, porous, light, dark, grained, patterned. The possibilities and the beads created over time are endless.

Vegetable Ivory

This is from the kernel of the Ilala Palm found in tropical areas in Africa, also known as the American Ivory Palm, the modern alternative to Ivory