13 painted glass beads, lilac

Description

String of 8 inches, 13 beads. They measure 9-10 mm.diameter with a hole of 2-3 mm that accommodate thicker stringing material such as leather or hemp.
Since they are handmade, size may vary a bit.
Approx. net weight is 30 grams.

Recycled glass beads are made by crushing old glass (from old bottles, windows, etc) into powder, which is then heated and poured into clay molds. A leaf stem (cassava) is used to make a hole. As the beads are oven backed, the glass fuses and the stem burn away.
The bead technique has been used in Africa for centuries.
It result in a beautiful, rough, primitive appearance with a texture similar to sea glass.