By Sandra J. Paluzzi
The Bead Peddler®

The original beads were made of natural materials, including animal bones.  Bird bones were light weight and easy to use as  beads.  The hole was actually built into the bone so that was not a problem.   As time marched on, larger animals began to supply the materials for beads.

Animal tusks and teeth produced ivory beads.  The ivory was left after all the vultures were through with the carcass of the dead animal.  Ivory was harder to break than bone.  It was resistant to damage, but easily worked into beads, tools and weapons.   Ivory beads were frequently carved with roses being a common theme.  They were also used in mala prayer beads.   Carved ivory was also worked into sculptures and wall plaques.  Ivory was used for piano keys and for furniture.  All in all, ivory became used for a large variety of purposes.   Animals were killed for their ivory and some species became endangered.  It became illegal to trade ivory in the 1980s.  Any ivory beads you buy today must have been produced at least 25 years ago.  Luckily,  ivory is almost indestructible.  Good examples of ivory jewelry dating as far back as the Ming Dynasty are often traded on eBay.  As for today, people are encouraged to use vegetable ivory or synthetic polyester ivory.

While the harvesting of ivory is now illegal, the harvesting of bone continues.  Bone beads are frequently made from the bones of elephants, cows and horses.  They typically originate in Africa, Tibet, and India.  They are frequently carved.  You can find bone pendants made into Buddha, elephants, horses and many other shapes.   Carved bone beads are also very common, with geometric patterns predominating.  Bone also takes dye well.  They are frequently batiked.  Batik is a process where a pattern is painted on the bone with wax.  The bone is then submerged in dye which takes to the bare surface of the bone, but not to the waxed portion.

Bone beads are plentiful, they are versatile and they are inexpensive.  Their only drawback is that they do throw off an unpleasant odor.  They are currently in fashion for jewelry with the natural and hippie looks.