
Title | Krobo Beads Recycled Glass Rings Ghana Africa |
---|---|
Other Names | Annular |
Type of Object | Powder glass |
Made In | Ghana |
Traded In | Africa |
Approximate Age | 20th century |
Overall Condition | Very good |
Bead Size | 11-12 mm diameter. 1-3mm hole. See picture with penny for size comparison (US penny is 19mm diameter). |
Strand Length | 18 inches (including string/raffia) |
Picture is an example, yours will be similar.
Additional information: For more information, please see our comprehensive guide to African-made beads, African Beads: Jewels of a Continent, hardcover, 216 pages, 163 color photographs, available from Africa Direct.
In Ghana, Krobo artisans grind recycled glass (from old bottles, jars) to a fine powder. The powder is formed in a kaolin-covered clay mold which uses a cassava leaf stem to make the center hole. The beads are then fired in an oven and as the glass hardens, the cassava leaf burns up. After they’re cooled, the beads are often decorated with dyes or paints before being washed, then strung thru the void left by the burned cassava.