THIS BEAUTIFUL STRAND CONSISTS OF 81 GENUINE KROBO AFRICAN GLASS TRADE BEADS FROM GHANA, MEASURING 30" LONG AND WEIGHING 224 GRAMS
📜 Historical Context & Info
- The Krobo People: The Krobo people of Ghana are renowned as some of the most prolific and skilled bead makers in Africa. Historically, beads were (and still are) deeply integrated into Krobo culture, used in traditional ceremonies, puberty rites (Dipo), and as a status symbol of wealth and prestige.
- Millefiori & Fancy Eye Design: "Millefiori" translates from Italian to "thousand flowers." The style mimics historical Venetian trade beads that were brought to Africa centuries ago. These modern Ghanaian versions use a powder-glass technique to recreate the iconic layered "eye" and "flower" geometric patterns.
- Eco-Friendly Upcycling: These beads are handmade entirely from recycled glass source materials, such as old medicine bottles, jars, and broken window panes.
🛠️ How They Are Made
- Pulverising the Glass: Recycled glass is crushed into a fine powder using a traditional mortar and pestle.
- Layering the Mold: Specialized clay molds are layered with different colored glass powders using a small funnel and an agile hand to form the intricate "fancy eye" and striped patterns.
- The Fire: Cassava plant stalks are placed in the center of each bead mold to create the threading hole. The molds are then pushed into a wood-fired clay kiln on a long paddle. The cassava stalk burns away, leaving a clean hole, while the glass fuses together.
- Finishing: After cooling, the beads are washed and rigorously rubbed against a smooth stone slab with sand and water to give them their characteristic smooth, matte finish.
THIS IS A CHUNKY COLLECTOR STRAND WITH LOTS OF CHARACTER.