1910s. Edwardian. Offered in quantities of ten. 1910s smooth oval vegetable ivory beads.
Each measures approximately 5 at widest x 7 mm long.
These antique beads are made from vegetable ivory, the name given to the Elephant Palm plant's Tagua nut. Vegetable ivory was popular up to the beginning of World War I (1914). After the war, early plastics rose in popularity, replacing the demand for this natural, plant-based material. Shades vary from ivory, cream, to a nutty greenish hue - see images.
