MY MOTHER'S FRIEND WENT TO AFRICA IN THE 1960-70's AND BROUGHT THIS BACK ALONG WITH SOME OTHER GREAT PIECES I HAVE HAD FOR MANY YEARS. IT IS A LOVELY MALACHITE NECKLACE THAT IS SLIGHTLY GRADUATED AND THE MALACHITE IS SEPARATED BY SMALL GLASS BEADS. THE DESCRIPTION GIVEN TO ME WAS: HAND CARVED AND DRILLED MALACHITE BEADS STRUNG WITH GLASS BEADS FROM THE OLD BELGIAN CONGO--NOW ZAIRE. (THE LAST PHOTO IS A PICTURE OF THE DESCRIPTION I RECEIVED.) THE MALACHITE PIECES ARE IRREGULARLY SHAPED BECAUSE THEY ARE HAND CARVED. SOMETIMES THERE ARE 5 SMALL BEADS IN BETWEEN, SOMETIMES 6-7 BEADS. THE BEAUTIFUL RICH COLOR OF MALACHITE MAKES A GREAT STATEMENT. THE NECKLACE IS 26 INCHES. IT HAS BEEN SITTING IN A DRAWER FOR MANY YEARS. IT IS IN WONDERFUL CONDITION.