Old African Snake and Padre Beads with Krobo Beads Necklace

Lovely colors in a double strand African Ethnic style necklace that is easy and fun to wear makes a versatile and eye-catching spring and summer time necklace. The 2 strands are 28 inches and 32 inches long and close with a Sterling Silver Toggle Clasp.

Attesting to the ingenuity and artistic expression of the African people, these traditional glass beads of Ghana are often referred to as Krobo beads, the Krobo mountains being the main area of production. These beads are made from recycled glass. Bottles and other glass items are first washed and sorted by colors. They are then broken into small fragments for making translucent beads, or pounded with a metal mortar and pestle, and sieved to get a very fine powder for making powder glass beads. Glass powder of different colors is obtained using ceramic dyes.

Many popular Ghana beads date back over one hundred years, having been retrieved from ancient burial grounds. However, if the idea of wearing those from a burial ground does not sit well with you, you may opt for Krobo beads which are produced from other recycled materials such as glass bottles.

There are 3 main types of Krobo glass beads: powder glass, translucent and painted glass beads. These are hand painted.

The rose, blue and white Krobo beads throughout the necklace have been hand painted. The rose pink ones are antique Trade Beads called Padre Beads. The early snake beads were actual snake vertebrae. These old dark blue Snake Beads are molded glass. Today they come in many pretty colors. Silver accent beads are modern day handmade from "found silver".