Rare and Lovely Striped Kiffa Bead from Mauritania antique India Necklace slips over head

Necklace slips over head

Irregular 10-11mm diameter with 3-4mm hole

This solid 18mm x 15mm pendant features the likeness of the Hindu god Vishnu

Brick-red with blue and white stripes

Rare and Lovely Striped Kiffa Bead from Mauritania antique India Necklace slips over headThis very cool and magical 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; 11mm diameter. Fabricated to mimic a popular Venetian bead