These African shell beads are increasingly rare, prized by collectors of trade beads. In Mauritania, they are carefully matched and worn on their own and in combination with glass beads. Such beads are more popular and collectable than ever. Thousands are in private collections around the world. The African Traders are having to go deeper and deeper into Africa to find more of these beads, and many styles which were readily available just 5 years ago are no longer seen today. Click the "Buy Items on Etsy" button on this web site to learn more about them.