• Bone beads are made around the world.bone beads image by Greg Pickens from Fotolia.com
  
  Carving bone for uses in art, jewelry and décor is a tradition common to Polynesian culture and in many other locations worldwide, including Hawaii, countries in Africa, Indonesia, India and the Philippines. Bone is a sturdy material for carving and is commonly collected from oxen and cattle, as bone from many other animals is outlawed to discourage poaching and animal extinction. Common gifts made of carved bone include jewelry, ornamental boxes and figurines.
  
  

Carved Bone Pendants

• Small pendants and carvings made of bone can be tied to a string or chain to be worn as a necklace. Bone carvings can replicate ancient and tribal symbols meant to bestow powers or carry meaning. For example, the Hei-Matau carving, which looks like a stylized fish hook, is a symbol of power and authority to the Maori people. It's seen as a good luck charm to people traveling over water and represents strength, prosperity, abundance and fertility. Another popular symbol is the Manaia carving, an ancient mythical creature that has a human form with a bird head that symbolizes spiritual energy as well as guarding against evil. Other options include Koru bone carvings which are more traditional symbols, such as the Tiki, twist bone carvings and ocean creatures.
  
  

Carved Bone Beads

• Carved bone beads come in many styles and colors, depending on the region where they're crafted. Bone beads from the Philippines range from plain white to tea-dyed and even some painted with bright colors and designs. Shapes for these beads can be simple, such as donuts, rings, hairpipes, discs, sticks and rounds, to more intricate shapes like saucers, hearts, leaves and shells. Bone beads from Africa come in standard disk, hairpipe and round shapes and are painted with designs like swirls, stars, eyes, dots and arrows. Carved bone beads can be used for making bracelets, necklaces and other jewelry, used as decorative items in the bottom of glass jars and vases and within art pieces.
  
  

Carved Bone Boxes

• Carved bone boxes range from multi-layered boxes, small purse boxes and even intricate boxes like cricket cages. Many are detailed with animals such as turtles, fish, frogs, whales and dragons, with some taking the form of the animal and others detailed with picture carvings. Carved bone boxes can be given as gifts themselves or used as the packaging of a present with a smaller gift inside. Bone boxes can be used for holding jewelry or small trinkets around the house or in an office.