Ethiopian Heishi Beads Jk Brown Collection

With a metalworking heritage spanning 6,000 years, Africa's skilled artisans have left an indelible mark on history. Beginning with the Nubians and Egyptians crafting gold and copper artifacts, the introduction of ironworking by the Phoenicians around 800 BCE gradually spread across the continent, influencing societies from the Kingdom of Axum to the Nok civilization and the Atlantic coast. Blacksmiths, revered and feared for their metamorphic powers, still command respect in West African cultures. Gold-rich regions, like the Ashanti kingdom in Ghana, boast a legacy epitomized by the sacred golden stool. The nomadic Tuareg specializes in silver jewelry, imparting symbolic significance to heirloom Agadez cross pendants. Ethiopia's silver craftsmanship produces diverse items, from telsum amulets to Coptic crosses. Brass beads and pendants, along with copper and aluminum, showcase the vibrancy of African metalworking, exemplified by Yoruba-raised dot beads, Igbo bugs, and intricat