wood craft

Ila Suleyman designs this extraordinary necklace under the theme of Taoure, the Mamprusi term for prosperity. From northern Ghana, Mamprusi people are predominantly rice and cattle farmers. Suleyman selects agate enhanced to a fiery red and cow bone beads embellished with batik techniques. Flanked by brass and sese wood beads, the necklace is crafted by hand with plastic beads recycled from a variety of sources.

"Enjoy this beautiful necklace and may your good deeds be more in number than the beads strung on this necklace," encourages Ila Suleyman. He calls his design Maneray, the Mossi term for good deeds. The Mossi are predominantly millet and cattle farmers who use cow hide and other natural materials to create various items including jewelry and accessories. Suleyman crafts the necklace by hand in a palette of warm earth hues featuring glistening agates, terracotta and sese wood beads. A bone pendant painted with batik techniques centers the necklace featuring recycled plastic beads at both sides. Closes with a brass clasp.

A green square handcrafted of leather is accented with three stones of agate, centering a length of cord. Presented by Chaloemphon, this pendant necklace is crafted by Thai artisans. They finish it with a sliding raintree wood bead for an adjustable length, accented with bone beads at the ends.

A square of dark brown leather is accented with three black agates, to center a length of cord. From Chaloemphon in Thailand, this pendant necklace is crafted by hand. A raintree wood bead adjusts the length of the cord, which is accented with bone beads at the ends.

"The design of this necklace celebrates our preference for chunky jewelry and natural materials," confides Nigerian-born Nonyem Abena Ibeneme. She crafts the beaded necklace by hand with a medley of beads carved from cow bone, agate, soapstone, bamboo, terracotta, and bauxite. Featuring sese wood and recycled plastic spacers, the necklace fastens with a brass hook.