Rare Old Authentic African Powder Glass Trade Bead from Ghana
This large tabular Krobo bead is a rare and beautiful example of authentic African trade beads made by the Krobo people of Ghana, West Africa. Carefully handmade in the early 1900s using recycled glass, this bead represents both history and craftsmanship.
Its striking sandcast design features circular "eye" motifs in earthy reds and blacks on a warm yellow base, making it a standout collector's item or an inspiring component for artisan jewelry making.
Bead Size: 29mm x 21mm x 16mm
The bead remains in very good condition despite its age, with only slight beveling at the edges a testament to its journey through African trade routes over the decades.
Powder Glass Bead-Making in Krobo, Ghana
This bead was crafted using the mold-inlaid powder glass technique. In this traditional Krobo process, locally recycled glass is crushed into a fine powder and carefully poured into clay molds. Artisans apply intricate designs using natural dyes and cassava stalks before the bead is fired in a kiln.
Known also as Old Gashi Beads or sandcast beads, these powder glass creations carry deep cultural meaning. For centuries, such Ghana glass beads have symbolized wealth, status, and identity, playing vital roles in trade and ceremonial use throughout West Africa.
