Bone, Horn, Wood, Shell Beads by Mail
Use These Unusual Natural Beads & Pendants to Spark Your Designs
FREE ... Every bead order includes FREEBEES--$5, $10, up to $20 worth OF MORE BEADS!
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You can see interesting original designs on this page. Feel free to copy/adapt any.
We are VERY picky when selecting carved or handpainted bone beads and pendants. Many of the bone items are made from cow or camel bones. Bone is easy to carve and takes color very well. Most lacquered beads and pendants have a wood base and many layers of lacquer for a rich, deep luster. AMBER, petrified tree sap, is found in Northern Europe (Baltic) as well as Africa and China. Baltic amber is transparent and is considered the finest quality. It comes in many shades of gold, caramel, dark brown, even cherry red (cherry amber).
Unique Dzi Beads with Sterling Ends
Very special, unique "dzi" beads with sterling repousse endcaps. They are old. The size is impressive, 2 inches to 2.25 inches long, 16mm in diameter at the center. Would be outstanding with the mammoth ivory pendant or any of teh interesting bone beads on this page. Repoussee is a method of embossing a metal sheet (silver, copper, brass) by punching and hammering a design from the back, then polishing it up in front with a chasing hammer, producing a three-dimensional bas-relief surface. Tibetan pieces they make exquisite beads and jewelry, and also because we are passionately committed to a Free Tibet. Almost all of our things come from a Tibetan family who lives in the United States, with relatives who are refugees in Nepal as well as in Tibet. It is a woman-owned company, which not only employs many family members in the U.S. but also provides jobs for more than 90 Tibetan refugees in Nepal. Dzi bead with sterling, $24.99 each.
Delicate, Antique "Shard" Porcelain Pendants
These one of a kind pendants, created from antique porcelain pottery shards, are just so unique and charming. On the left, a man doing Tai-chi, 1.5" wide. Middle, an older gent with a parasol at the river. Right, a young man in traditional scholars' clothing, 1.75" high. Each shard is set into a sterling bezel and has a loop for your fine silk cord. The background is pure white, and the pastel tints are lovely and permanent. Shard pendant, $59.99 each.
Most Unusual and Beautiful Carving
This wonderful work of art was carved from a single piece of mammoth ivory. It is about 2 inches long and extremely carefully detailed. This jaw dropping piece will be available June 20, as the carver is drilling a through hole at the top just under the cuff. A one of a kind marvel! Mammoth ivory hand with horse, $375.00.
Protective Devil, Husband & Wife
The detailed 3-D carving of a horned man is probably a good luck charm to scare off the other evil spirits. Size is 25x16mm, hole thru the top, and smooth (bald) on the back. Mammoth Ivory with Inked details. The 2 coiled snakes are known as "husband and Wife" and there are wonderful details of skin, eyes, etc. Openings for inserting cord or wire, 22x18mm. Mammoth ivory. Protective devil or double snake, $92.00 each.
Bone Animal Carvings
Delightful detailed carvings, done with skill, of a sitting tiger, striking snake, water buffalo, and grazing horse. Carved from cow or camel bone. Each one about one inch high and drilled top to bottom. Tiger, snake, buffalo or horse, $25.00 each.
Large Amber Pendant with Leaves, Insect Wings?
This is a large extremely old Baltic amber pendant with a lot of natural material caught inside. Or is that large clump a honey bee? On the back, part of the plant material oozed through the amber. There are parts of plants and what look like insect wings, also a tiny insect which you can't see. The hanging loop is 14k gold and can accommodate a strand of up to 3mm beads, which I doubled in the photo. You can also hang it from a chunky silk cord. One of a kind--the size and contents make it unique. Length 2", width 1.5" and 3/4" thick. Amber pendant, $155.00.
Carved Dog Bead
Here is a fairly accurate carving of a dog & it looks just like a Rottweiler! Smiling away,
has a hole top of back through to bottom (vertical) and measures almost 2" inches long.
Could also be a tiger. You figure it out!
Shark Teeth
These fascinating shark teeth are petrified ... and ready to add to a design for dramatic impact! They are about one inch high with a nice copper wire wound loop. Combine them with a mammoth ivory pendant. Shark tooth, $6.00 each, 2 for $8.99.
Interesting, unique Bone Beads
Here are 3 styles of bone beads, hand made, with unique designs and shapes. If you are looking for rich neutral tones, these are the answer. The top row shows a chunky rectangle incised with a contrasting herringbone weave. Pattern is on both sides. Size is 25x18mm. Medium hole. The middle row shows a beautiful inlaid cube shape, almost indistinguishable from ivory, inlaid with a green gemstone in the shape of a dragonfly. The other side has a delicate etching in black of a poppy flower. Size is 16mm square. The bottom strand shows an open work filigree pattern on a narrow oval bead, with a rich nutty color and large hole. Size is 20mm x 10mm. Bone patterned beads, 2 same pattern for $4.99, any 6 for $24.99 save 20%. SPecify choices on shopping cart page.
Pretty Pink Shell Shapes
I just love the iridescent, soft pink tones of these shell beads--abalone or mother of pearl, dyed to be sure, but permanently. The design possibilities are many ... these would set off a strand of white freshwater pearls so nicely! Just one example. They look beautiful with our red drusy too. A 14" strand has about 48 irregular shaped beads. Pink shell beads, a 14" strand for $10.99.
Ancient Style Beads made Today--Hill Tribes
I looked for these finally found them. Resin beads with sterling endcaps in 3 sizes.
The red is really deep & pure. The "amber" has mottled areas. Both colors opaque.
The silver endcaps are carefully made--there is a coiled rope design and a floral design.
Amber size, 26x20mm. Large red size, 32mm x 24mm.
Small red size, 12mm x 10mm.
Hill tribes repros, amber/silver, $8.99 each, large red/silver, $8.99 each,
small red/silver, 5 for $12.00, 10 for $20.00. Completely NEW idea, rectangular beads made from lava! The color is a matte black and they have interesting
natural character, pitted and rough-edged. These would look great with some of our rough-finished red coral
and of course sterling accents! Size is 40mm x 30mm, about 1.5x.75".
Lava bead, $3.75 each. Had to get these fabulous red violet rondels. Natural spiny oyster from the Gulf. Size graduates from 10mm
down to 6mm, each strand is 22" long. would make a lovely necklace just on their own, but combine them
with silver or some of our sea urchin shells or the new lava beads! Spiny oyster 22" strand, $115.00. The fascinating marbled & mottled faceted round beads are from fossilized peanut trees. Yes there is a
peanut tree--look it up on Google. The beads would look fabulous combined with any of the pendants.
Fossil peanut tree beads, 8mm, a complete 16" strand of 50 beads,$65.00.
Woolly Mammoths (mammuthus primigenius) lived from about 2 million years ago to about 10,000 years ago during the last ice age.
This was after dinosaurs were extinct. These magnificent animals were from 9 to 15 feet tall with either straight or
curved tusks up to 15 feet long. Since this species is extinct there is no ban on international trade of tusks or
items made with mammoth ivory. A mammoth would eat about 700 pounds of vegetation per day as they were herbivores. Cave
paintings of mammoths have been found in France and Spain. Since they lived during the ice age,
they had heavy fur coats.
Everything you need to make this necklace is on this page. The strand has bone rondels inlaid with
tiny coral and turquoise pieces, alternating with
golden amber spacers (ours are 3.5mm, above). The circular pendant is hand-etched with leaf forms. The materials used make
this an extremely light weight necklace to wear, although the design is far from light weight. The etched
bone disc is 1.25" in diameter.
Here is a design using our bone carved butterfly pieces. Very nice Andrea!
These are quite beautiful quality pure natural Mediterranean red coral cupellini strands. The pieces are about
6-8mm wide, drilled in the center, and decrease in size at the ends to about 4mm. The color is rich and
flattering, absolutely not dyed. (The photo shows about 6 strands.)
These are sold out--inquire if you need some. Left, an elegant bead in white bone with detailed enameled silver endcaps in sky blue, cobalt,
and maroon. Size 18mm x 7mm. Capped bone tube, 2 beads for $4.00, 24 beads, $33.00 save $15.00.
Mostly chunky wood beads with vintage raku in celadon green, intense blue pottery rounds
and a great little pewter daisy bead. This is a perfect accessory for that new chunky knit top.
All have large holes for quickie stringing on cord. Just tie in back & go! Sorry, all components sold out. Copyright Beads by Mail 2005-2006-2007. All rights reserved.
Hand made Beads from Hill Tribes
These large amber-toned beads have fascinating sterling silver overlays. Lovely melon shape
and large holes too. Size 32x24mm. Photo enlarged to show details. Amber-toned oval bead with sterling overlay, $16.99 each, 2
for $28.99 save 20%
Natural Lava Beads
Hello! Beautiful Colors of Spiny Oyster
Floral Heart pendant
Here is an openwork heart pendant of natural bone that has been delicately carved and polished. Size is about
1.5" high, 1.25" wide.
Bone heart pendant, $3.99 each, 4 for $11.99 save 25%. Baltic Amber Rounds
These 3.5 mm round beads are the finest quality Baltic amber. The color is a lovely deep sunset gold,
each bead being transparent. There are 122 beads on each 16" strand. We are offering these unusual
and hard to locate baltic amber beads at a special price. These are jeweler quality beads. The color
will combine beautifully with other semiprecious stones as well as PEARLS!
Baltic amber bead, 16" strand of 122 beads, $27.99.Carved Wood Bead Lacquer
These 14mm beads carved in a knot pattern, of lacquered wood in jet black, make a striking accent. THey have a somewhat glossy
finish.
Black lacquered beads, 4 for $12.99.Bone Rondel with Inlay
Some very useful camel bone discs, inlaid with turquoise and coral chips,
lots of texture for casual designs, 10mm x 4mm.
Inlaid bone disc, 8 for $3.99.
Bone Hand Painted Treasures
Hand-painted bone disc pendant
These bone discs show delicate
hand-painted motifs of flowers, fish, birds ... each one is different. About one inch in dameter.
Bone disc, $6.00 each.Artistic & Unique FOSSIL MAMMOTH IVORY pendants--Call to order
We believe we are the only source on the web for these fossil mammoth ivory pieces.
Each one is unique and striking in its colors and surface designs. Think of the
wonderful adornments you can create around one of these--they are warm, cool, elegant, earthy, all original Mother Nature's work.
Own a piece of our planet's prehistory.
When you decide which ones you want give me a call, to make sure we still have it. 800-572-7920.
Each piece has hanging holes at the top and is different on each side. The coin gives you an idea of
size. The largest piece is 5" high and 1.5" wide (lower photo).
Fossil ivory, special introductory price, $12.00 each.
Mother of Pearl Has Satin Finish
These mother of pearl leaf pendants are lovely to use in any design. Mother of pearl looks great with accent
colors like coral or onyx. Leaf size, 30mm x 12mm. We used round 6mm mother of pearl beads for spacers.
The necklaces are for sale at our Contemporary Jewelry page.
Mother of pearl leaf pendant, 4 for $5.99. 6mm round MOP, 16" strand for $7.50. Buddha pendant--Rich Color, Intricate Carving
We always sell our Buddha-inspired items. This one is especially unique, a pendant with a loop
in back made of carved wood, lacquered in a rich deep garnet red color. 28mm high x 21mm wide (just over one inch high).
The facial expression is very well done. This would look wonderful on a strand of plain garnet beads.
Photo is greatly englarged to show detail.
Red buddha, $4.99 each, 3 for $8.00 save $7.00. Artistic Necklace of Bone & Horn
Necklace
Stunning Rare Red Coral Cupellini Strands
Bone Tube with Cloisonne Endcaps
See What You Can Do
The carnelian butterfly is happy to be flying with our oval cloisonne diamond pattern beads 2 for $6.99 (metal page), tan colors, and
our Aussie wood beads 20 assorted for $7.99 (bone page).
Added garnet 5.5mm rounds for accent, a strand is $29.99. Wood & Porcelain
Vintage German Inlaid Lucite Bead--Very Old
Above, a circular disc bead of matte-finish fluted lucite, made in Western Germany,
inlaid with 4 multicolored machine cut point-back crystals on each side (identical on each side except for
colors of crystals). Smoky black only. Drilled side to side so it lies flat. This is
a very unusual item that is in short supply & no longer manufactured. 16mm. German lucite disc, black,
6 for $3.79. Art Nouveau Inspired Necklace
Interesting "Nouveau" Butterfly
Butterfly carved from bone and dyed a lovely medium brown. Detailing reminiscent of shapes and designs
from arts and crafts or nouveau styles. 20mm x 22mm, drilled lengthwise and with negative openings that can
hold dangles. See it in the elegant necklace toward the top of the page. Also available in white, see above,
same price. The pieces are thin and lightweight, and would look lovely on a bracelet or as an earring
Bone butterfly, 2 for $3.99.