*New* Mali ‘Silver’ 14-16mm

Just in from Ghana!!! ….. A strand of 55 silver coin metal Mali squashed bicone beads strung on string which measures approx. 26″. Or a strand of 12 beads if you only need a few for a project.  The beads are approx. 14-16 mm by 10-12 mm. Please note that these beads are made by hand out of recycled metal and will vary in shape and size within the strand. The string you will receive will be similar to the one you see in the photo but might have some variations. These beads were found for Funky Frog by a Trader in the Koforidua Beads Market, Ghana.

These handmade beads are said to be made by melting old silver coins or scrap silver metal and reusing the material. In recent years, these beads are becoming more and more difficult to find as many of the traditional artisans leave the villages in pursuit of new opportunities as well as because of the strife Mali is experiencing. These hollow Mali beads are light-weight and fun to use. I have a standing order with my Traders and one of them found these for me about a year later. Often now these beads are not well made but strands only have a few beads with very slight imperfections. The strands with larger real imperfections were broken up to make the small 12 beads strands. These beads always have a few slight imperfections.. it makes them interesting.