Bandolier- Nickel & Mescal Beads

Nickel & Mescal Beads with Pink Shell Concho

The crafter made this Bandolier – Nickel & Mescal Beads with red mescal beans. They strung the nickel beads on metal wire and the mescal beads on cotton string to create a balanced, traditional layout. At the bottom, the crafter added a 3″ x 2.5″ pink shell concho accented with a shell button and a blue fire‑polished bead at the center. They finished the piece with a 5‑inch drop featuring black tile beads and red mescal beans.

This bandolier measures approximately 36 inches long, including the 5‑inch drop. A previous owner wore this Bandolier- Nickel & Mescal Beads , so you may see signs of use. It remains in very good, usable condition and carries strong handcrafted character.

One of a Kind!

Bandoliers have a long history across many Native communities, where makers used them as both practical accessories and expressive cultural items. Early bandoliers often held tools, medicines, or small personal belongings, but they quickly evolved into highly decorative pieces featuring beadwork, shells, coins, and natural materials. Crafters used regional resources—such as mescal beans, metal beads, and leather—to create bandoliers. Over time, bandoliers became important elements in dance regalia and social dress, valued for their movement, color, and the skill required to make them.

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