I got these two phenolic beads in a lot of cross-drilled phenolic diamond-shaped beads that were typical of the old (1920-1950 or so) beads we see coming out of Africa.
But these were not cross drilled, so the original stock did not have the characteristic central hole. They are carved with long notches on one side, and on the other side, some smooth depressions that may have been air bubbles from the curing of the larger piece of phenolic stock that the beads were carved or machined from.
I am pretty sure the material is phenolic resin, but without a chemical analysis I cannot be 100% sure.
Has anyone seen this sort of carved phenolic bead in the African or other trade? Any ideas about provenance?
Size of beads is about 41 mm perf-perf.
