
Title | Mudcloth Batik Bone Beads Long Cylinders Africa |
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Type of Object | bovine cow bone |
Made In | Kenya |
Traded In | Africa |
Approximate Age | Late 20th-early 21st century |
Overall Condition | Good. |
Bead Size | 6-7 mm wide. 2mm hole.See picture with penny for size comparison. |
Strand Length | 26 inches (including string/raffia). |
Brand | Unbranded |
Style | Beaded |
Type | Necklace |
Picture is an example. Yours will be similar.
Additional information: For more information, please see our comprehensive guide to African-made beads, African Beads: Jewels of a Continent, hardcover, 216 pages, 163 color photographs, available from Africa Direct.
Mudcloth beads are made of bone and are created in Africa using a “batik” technique. Wax is painted onto the bead to create a design, then the remaining surface is darkened with a vegetable dye. Once the dye is set, the wax is removed. The resulting graphic is reminiscent of the African “bogolanfini” fabric known as mudcloth.