VINTAGE CARVED CORAL BEAD Angel Skin FOCAL Barrel 20.03 grams pkg1 1984 CB264

Description

Large ornately carved vintage FOCAL bead of genuine UNDYED angel skin coral! This bead is exquisitely carved in a high relief pattern and one of many such beads that we purchased in Taiwan in 1984! It has the Chinese eternity symbol on it like so many of the carved stone beads I purchased in the 1980's in China.

Coral is the hard skeleton created by tiny marine organisms known as "coral polyps". Corals live in warm water oceans all over the world,and their habitat has been steadily disappearing because of human water pollution and over fishing.

Since coral collection and mining was banned worldwide in 1992, it is very difficult to find such beads as these in the bead trade!
The U.S also currently has a ban on importing corals . We do have the documentation to show that these beads were purchased by us in 1984.

Next to red (oxblood)and dark orange, angel skin( pink and white )is the most desired and most valuable.

Increasing popularity and decreasing supply has driven up coral prices dramatically in the last few years.

Fine quality angel skin coral like this is virtually unobtainable and well carved and detailed beads such as this are extremely scarce if even available - you will not find a bead such as this at your local gem show!
As with faceted gems, fine coral like this is sold by weight.

I guarantee this carved approx. 20.03 gram, 31mm x 20mm angel skin coral beads to be UNDYED, natural and vintage from 1984.

Price is for this one incredible specimen of a bead which weighs approximately 20.03 grams.
**Please note that we have another bead virtually identical to this bead in carving, weight, and dimensions if you need a pair of these so please send me a convo if you're interested in the other bead as well.**

SHIPPING COST includes insurance within the U.S.

I sold angel skin coral beads such as these through the Smithsonian Institution's museum shop and catalog during the 1980's and they were also featured in trunk shows at Bloomingdales and Saks Fifth Avenue during this same time period.
You can read more about my career as a jewelry designer in my profile page!

Added on Oct 23, 2009

Shipping

ship to:	cost:	with another item:
United States	$4.00 USD	$4.00 USD
Everywhere Else	$2.50 USD	$1.50 USD

Payment methods

• 
• Money Order
• Other (see description)

Got a question about this item?

• contact the seller
• view this shop's policies