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ADDITIONAL   EXAMPLES

General Production Note: Families in 60 or more Ghana villages have developed an industry of taking recycled ground glass and fabricating it into beads. By sprinkling ground powdered color glass into clay molds and these in turn placed into earthen kilns where the temperature is raised high enough to fuse the glass particles. The techniques used to generate the patterns has not been found in the literature I've reviewed. I'm guessing these bicone beads are made in two parts and fused together. These beads have a tradition that goes back perhaps a thousand years. And was impacted by the European traders who provided glass beads and inspiration. Broken beads were refashioned for additional use. Followed was the art of grinding up glass pieces and fusing them together and this method has become an art form in it's own right. As a craftsmen and beadmaker I have the utmost respect for the creativity and craftsmanship for those who produce these beads.

 

apgb-06-0001 DESCRIPTION - Powder glass bead SHAPE - Bicone SIZE - 27mm dia - 25mm long HOLE - 3mm COLOR - White, dark blue, red & yellow ACQUIRED before 2006 VALUE - $10 for a strand of 25, Shops sell at about $2 each

 

apgb-06-0002 DESCRIPTION - Powder glass bead SHAPE - Bicone SIZE - 27mm dia - 23mm long HOLE - 3mm COLOR - very dark brown, prussian blue & yellow ACQUIRED before 2006 VALUE - $10 for a strand of 25, Shops sell at about $2 each

 

apgb-06-0003 DESCRIPTION - Powder glass bead SHAPE - Bicone SIZE - 21mm dia - 20mm long HOLE - 3mm COLOR - yellow. greens & white ACQUIRED before 2006 VALUE - $10 for a strand of 40, Shops sell at about $1.50 to $2 each

 

apgb-06-0004 DESCRIPTION - Powder glass bead SHAPE - Bicone SIZE - 21mm dia - 22mm long HOLE - 3mm COLOR - Dark green & white with white yellow & rose bands ACQUIRED before 2006 VALUE - $10 for a strand of 40, Shops sell at about $1.50 to $2 each

 

apgb-06-0021 DESCRIPTION - Powder glass bead SHAPE - Bicone SIZE - 22mm dia - 21mm long HOLE - 3.5mm COLOR - rose & white with white, yellow & dr.green bands ACQUIRED 2006 VALUE - $10 for a strand of 40, Taos, NM shops sold for $2 each

 

apgb-06-0005 DESCRIPTION - Powder glass bead SHAPE - Bicone SIZE - 16mm dia - 25mm long HOLE - 3mm COLOR - Green, white, yellow-orange & black ACQUIRED before 2006 VALUE - $10 for a strand of 40, Shops sell at about $1.50 to $2 each

 
Additional examples of bicone African power glass beads

( 14mm to 18mm diameter,  11mm to 25mm long )

Showing triangular design element

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apgb-06-0019

apgb-06-0012

apgb-06-0006

apgb-06-0014

apgb-06-0009

apgb-06-0010

apgb-06-0015

apgb-06-0018

apgb-06-0013

apgb-06-0011

apgb-06-0020

apgb-06-0016

apgb-06-0008

apgb-06-0007

I would be delighted to hear from anyone who has more knowledge of the history or production of these fine beads.

Email me at  tyler@tylerhannigan.com

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