49-51 powder glass beads

Description

Strand of 8 inches, approx. 49-51 rondelle beads.
They measure approx. 14 x 4 mm with a hole of 3-4 mm that accommodate thicker stringing material such as leather or hemp. Weight 60 grams.

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