Dhahabu Beaded Bangle, Black and Gold, Handmade Kenya

A handmade beaded bangle worked in black seed beads, with gold beadwork laid over it in a repeating leaf pattern and small faceted stones set into each one. It is the quiet one in this maker's range. The black ground keeps it wearable with almost anything, and the gold does the work, so it reads as jewellery rather than as craft, which is not true of every beaded bracelet. The bangle is closed rather than fastened, so it slides over the hand and there is no clasp to catch or fail. Dhahabu is the Swahili word for gold. The maker gives the diameter as 7cm. Every bead is threaded by hand, so the pattern will sit slightly differently on each one. Keep it away from perfume and lotion, which dull the gold finish, and store it apart from harder jewellery that can chip the stones.