Phenolic plastic beads imitating amber can be European-made OR African-made. It is well-documented that the plastic rods were exported to both W. and E. Africa--where they were turned into beads. (Literally, on a turning wheel--like a piece of furniture or wood beads.) The plastic rods vary from translucent to opaque, swirly or not, pale to dark (or both, mixed), crackled or not--and sometimes heat treated or dyed various colors.