A collection of handmade brass beads with wire whipped circles and teardrop frames which are wrapped around dark Lapis enamel inlay (to resemble gemstones) - are distinctly Middle Eastern.
Tribal and ethnic in every sense, these handmade beads have been crafted by the nomadic Turkoman people – an ethnic group native to Central Asia and living mainly in Turkmenistan and the northeastern regions of Afghanistan and Iran.
And there’s no question they can be used to create amazing ethnic-inspired statement jewellery items such as earrings, necklaces, bracelets, or an anklet.
They are hollow, and crude in texture, and each bead is individually hand-made in the Turkoman style. The beads are often used as currency when trading for goods.
In this collection, the five beads weigh in at about 40 grams - have been heavily discounted and now work out to cost roughly $6.00 each.
All our ethnic Turkoman beads contain a decent 3-4mm 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; please note that 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, contain imperfections, and are aged-worn.