Tribalgh

Mixed Krobo Glass and Brass African Trade Beads Strand 27.5"

Authentic Ghana Krobo Glass and Brass Trade Beads - 27.5" Strand

This striking strand of Ghana glass and brass beads is a tribute to Africa's rich beadmaking traditions. Crafted by artisans from Kroboland and Kumasi, these recycled glass and lost wax brass beads beautifully imitate historic Venetian fancy trade beads, bringing a timeless cultural charm to modern jewelry making.

Strand Length: 27.5" (70 cm)
Bead Sizes: 8-20 mm in diameter
Centerpiece Bead: Approximately 23 x 19 mm

The Krobo glass beads are handmade from recycled glass bottles and discarded glassware. These materials are ground into powder, carefully placed into clay molds, and baked in outdoor kilns. Each bead is a unique expression of traditional West African artistry, vibrant in color and rich in meaning.

The accompanying Ashanti brass beads are made using the ancient lost wax casting technique. Each bead begins with a wax model, which is encased in clay to form a mold. The mold is heated, the wax melted out, and molten brass poured in destroying the mold in the process and ensuring that no two beads are ever identical.

Trade beads such as these have long been a part of Africa’s history, once used as currency and markers of social status across the continent. Today, they remain symbols of identity, creativity, and cultural legacy still crafted with passion by Ghanaian artisans and cherished by collectors and designers worldwide.

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