
Type of Object | Powder glass |
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Made In | Ghana |
Traded In | Africa |
Approximate Age | 20th century |
Overall Condition | Good. Some of our beads have traveled at least three continents, and have graced numerous owners. Small chips, corrosion, and pitting are a normal part of their patina attesting to their age and extensive use. |
Damage/Repair | Imperfections due to inconsistencies in bead making process and chips and pits. See photos for more details. |
Bead Size | Please see picture with ruler for size comparison. |
Strand Length | 27 inches (including string/raffia). |
Brand | Unbranded |
Style | Beads |
Type | Strand of beads |
The picture is an example. Yours will be similar.
This strand is not intended to be a ready-to-wear necklace. Although the strand can be worn "as is," the raffia holding it together is not durable and may break with use. For this reason, we recommend that you restring the beads before wearing them.
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, and 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.
AG1122