Blue Kiffa Bead, Imitating Cowry Shell Antique Stone ranging from 12-15mm tall x

ranging from  12-15mm tall x 7-8mm wide x 4-6mm thick

It may have been a scarf-weight as well

Sizes range from 17mm x 16mm diameter to 21mm x 20mm diameter

This is liquidation price

Blue Kiffa Bead, Imitating Cowry Shell Antique Stone ranging from 12-15mm tall xThis very cool bead was made in Kiffa, Mauritania. It is very old and was made as a female fertility charm to resemble a cowry shell, 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. 12 17mm tall x 9 13mm wide x 6mm thick with a