White, Blue, Brown Sandcast Beads (Long Strand)

Checkout this beautiful strand of blue and brown African sandcast. These beads were produced by members of the Ashanti tribe in Africa. The process of making these beads is unique to Africa and has been used for over 1000 years. Pulverized glass of various colors is poured into a clay mold, using a cassava stem for the bead's hole. The mold is placed in a furnace and heated until the glass particles congeal without actually melting and the stem burns out. The Ghananians have been making beads in this manner since the 1600s. The strand measures approximately 28" with beads measuring anywhere from 10 - 15 mm in length. Each strand is sold individually. Two strands are shown in picture.