African Amber, Dark Reddish, Short Cylinder and Irregular Oblate, Set of 2

These beads are priced and sold as a set of 2 Rare medium size dark reddish beads, short cylinder 20x23mm and irregular oblate 18x27mm. Heat turns these beads red. These vintage/antique African amber beads were made an early synthetic called phenolic thermosetting resin. It was developed in 1910. Bakelite is the best known brand among several European manufacturers producing faux amber beads, jewelry and household products before World War II. Made for the African trade 1920s into the 1950s according to recent research by Rosanna Falabella. They were, and remain, highly valued by African women. Several generations of newer resin beads have followed, some better than others, at a variety of prices, but none can approach the beauty and durability of the original phenolic resins which are now almost 100 years old, and wear it well.