Kazakh Artistry - Afghanistan
This collection of 10 unique hand-beaten Kazakh tribal Brass and Silver Beads – measuring 14x16mm, were made by the traditional nomadic Sunni Muslim people known as Kazakhs, originally from the Ural Mountains in Kazakhstan.
There’s no question these metal beads can be used to create stunning ethnic or tribal jewellery – whether it be a pair of earrings, a necklace, bangles or your very own statement jewellery.
They are hollow and have been decorated with intricate silver wire work and open frame circles – plus their familiar trademark called ‘false granulation’ – which depict triangular imprints.
Crude in texture, each bead is individually hand-made in the Kazakh style and have become an important currency when trading for goods.
Their style is often mistaken for Turkoman craftsmanship – which is actually, quite different, because their beads do not contain the ‘False Granulation’.
The nomads are also called Kuchi Kazakh with numbers these days close to three million and mainly settled in the northern regions of Afghanistan.
The beads in this collection weigh approximately 28 grams – and cost $2.90 each.
All our ethnic Kazakh Brass and Silver Beads contain a decent 2mm top-drill hole which is suitable for threading with round leather, tigertail or craftline (similar to fishing line).
The accompanying photos illustrate what to expect in your order, while some images have been enlarged to show detail.
Please also bear in mind many of these beads are not new, nor have they been mass produced. They are hand-made, many contain imperfections, and all are aged-worn.