Christmas Beads & Ashanti Brass Lariat Necklace – Handmade Africa

Christmas Beads & Ashanti Brass Lariat Necklace - Handmade Africa

This stunning beaded necklace is a versatile lariat design, handcrafted with a mix of old African trade glass seed beads,  known as "Christmas" or "Love" beads , and newly made Ashanti brass beads. These vintage Venetian and Czech glass seed beads date back to the mid-1900s and were once widely traded across Africa. The lariat’s generous length allows it to be worn in multiple ways: as a long necklace, looped into layers, wrapped as waist beads, or styled as a multi-wrap bracelet.

• Lariat length: 59 1/2" (151 cm)
• Glass bead sizes: 2–5 mm diameter
• Brass bead size: approx. 23 x 14 x 4 mm
• Materials: Vintage glass trade beads, handmade brass beads

YOUR NECKLACE WILL BE IDENTICAL TO THE ONE SHOWN IN THE PHOTOGRAPH (GIVEN NORMAL VARIATION SINCE IS COMPLETELY HANDMADE).

What is a Lariat Necklace?

A lariat necklace is a long, rope-like necklace without a traditional clasp. Its open-ended design allows it to be draped, knotted, looped, or wrapped in a variety of ways. This flexibility makes it a favorite for creative styling and layering with other jewelry.

About the Colors

The glass beads create a lively mosaic of color, vivid reds, cobalt blues, turquoise, sunshine yellows, leafy greens, bright oranges, deep blacks, and soft whites. The random arrangement gives the piece a playful, festive feel, while the warm gold tones of the Ashanti brass beads add elegance and balance to the energetic palette.

Traditional Craftsmanship

The vintage "Christmas" beads are authentic Venetian and Czech seed beads that entered African trade in the mid-20th century, prized for their small size and colorful patterns. The newly made Ashanti brass beads are crafted in Kumasi, Ghana, using the ancient lost wax casting method, where each bead is first sculpted in wax, encased in clay, and then replaced with molten brass before the mold is broken.

Cultural Significance

Christmas beads have long been cherished in West Africa for their beauty, symbolism, and use in personal adornment. Combined with Ashanti brass beads, this lariat is both a celebration of African trade bead history and a versatile, wearable work of art.

Explore more from TribalGH:

• Shop Beaded Necklaces
• Beaded Bracelets Collection
• Beaded Earrings Collection