How Do They Make Bracelets From Ostrich Egg Shells?

Ostrich eggs have a tough shell, useful for jewelry-making and other craft projects.

The oldest ostrich egg bead is more than 50,000 years old. San Bushmen women in Africa use ostrich eggs to make beads that they then turn into jewelry such as bracelets. The process is time-consuming and labor-intensive, but the end product is a unique and beautiful gift.

Beads

Ostrich egg shells are first broken down into small pieces. These pieces are rounded using a hand tool made from the horn of a springbok (an animal in Africa similar to an antelope or deer) or, when available, nail clippers or other cutting tools. These rounded pieces are then made into polished beads using a whetstone, which is a stone used for sharpening tools.

Bracelets

Holes are drilled into the beads using a hand drill and an awl. By weaving the ostrich egg shell beads onto strips of leather, jewelry makers can create bracelets, necklaces and earrings. Sometimes other decorations are added to the jewelry. Porcupine quills and seeds are all used as additional decorative materials.

The Eggs

Originally, ostrich eggs were collected from wild ostriches. Today, most ostrich eggs are obtained from licensed ostrich farms. If you purchase an ostrich egg intact, you can eat the yolk and whites the way you would a chicken egg, then use the shell as a part of your next craft project.

References

• Kalahari Craft: Ostrich Eggshell Products
• World of Good: Fair Trade Ostrich Egg Jewelry