African recycled glass beads are made by members of the Krobo Tribe native to Ghana in West Africa. The rough-textured orbs are created by compressing glass into a dry grain and then pressing this mixture into a porcelain cast that is baked in a furnace. These beads are sometimes referred to as “sandglass,” due to the fact that temperatures in the Krobo furnaces are never high enough to petrify the silica/sand completely.

Glass beads have been made for centuries throughout Africa. Apart from their adornment value, beads have been widely used as a form of barter. They also indicate status and rank and are a symbol of prosperity.

• ±38 x 13cm