Large Blue Kiffa Bead

This very cool bead was made in Kiffa, Mauritania. It is very old and was made as a female fertility charm, mainly by women artists. Historically, Kiffa beads are very important as its ancient technique (dating to 1000 years ago) made it one of the oldest glass bead-making processes in Africa, which was purely African in origin. This bead is around 200 years old, possibly older.  22mm tall x 12mm wide x 10mm thick with a small .8mm hole. For more information check out issue #36 of Ornament Magazine.