Vintage "Berber amber" resin beads. At first I thought the circle and dot "eye" designs were burned onto the beads, like a brand. Oblates 29x34mm
On closer inspection I think drills were used to score the surface and then the grooves were filled with kohl or a similar black pigment.
These beads have multiple holes drilled: from top to bottom, side to side, and right thru the middle, from one flat side to the other. This allows for a variety of creative design options and combos.
Like all older beads these have acquired some dirt, especially on the flat sides where they rubbed against each other when strung. I have not washed these b/c I didn't want to risk removing the markings. However I have confirmed that the dirt can be wiped off the ends of the beads with a little warm soapy water or oil on a cloth and that it would take more than that to remove the black in the designs.
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