Out of Africa

The majority of our African sandcast glass beads have been handmade by the Yoruba people of Nigeria, Togo and Benin, as well as the Krobo people from the eastern region of Ghana.

What makes the manufacture of these spectacular beads so interesting is the simple fact, the artisans from these countries still use the same traditional tools and adopt similar methods as their ancestors have done for centuries. Quite remarkable. 

The colours, texture, design and their irregularities make these beads so unique in the world of adornment. 

They are made from old, recycled bottles and jars which are crushed into powder, heated, and then poured into specially designed molds.

A second group of unusual beads from Africa are made by the Ashanti people of central Ghana - who have specialised in the Lost-Wax method of metal casting since the 3rd millennium BC. 

The process calls for molten metal to be poured into specially designed bead molds which have been made out waxed models. 

The hot liquid causes the wax mold to melt and drain away - and in doing so the beads are created after the metal sets. 

37 products
  • Glass, Bone, Silver Foil, Resin, Indian, Sandcast, Tribal, Ethnic, Rastas, Hand Carved, Malas, Prayer Beads, Faceted, Crystal, Rocaille, 2 kilos, Kashmiri, Ghana, Nigeria, Himalayas, Tibet, Nepal, Pakistan, Indonesia, Czech Republic, Bicones, Rounds, Ovals, Twists, Drops, Tubes, Cubes, Tabular, Opaque, Transparent, Speckled, Frosted, Silver Foil, Hand-Carved, Frosted Necklaces, Bracelets, Earrings, Necklaces, Bead Curtain, Suncatcher, Multicolours,
    $32.00
    $32.00
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  • Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Sandcast, Glass, Beads, Recycled, Yoruba, Krobo, Bottles, Old, Rare, Ethnic, Tribal, Collectible, Statement, Necklaces, Bracelets, Boho, Cassava, Molds, Clay, Kiln, Mortar, Pestle, Wood-Burning, Leg Bangles, Collection, Mix, West Africa, Multicoloured,
    $85.00
    $85.00
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  • Africa, Ashanti, African, Ghana, Brass, Metal, Spiral Disks, 3rd Millennium, Lost-Wax, Central Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Baoule, Bronze, Lost Wax, Ancient Techniques, Krobo, Krobos, Metal-Casting, Beads, Molten Metal, Bead-Making, Modern Methods, West Africa, Tribe, Ethnic, Hearts, Fern-Like, Glass, Recycled Glass, Dentistry, Necklace, Bracelet, Leg Bangle, Boho-Inspired, Pendant Disks,
    $22.00
    $22.00
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  • Africa, Ashanti, African, Ghana, Brass, Metal, Hearts, Lost-Wax, Central Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Baoule, Bronze, Lost Wax, Ancient Techniques, Krobo, Krobos, Metal-Casting, Beads, Molten Metal, Bead-Making, Modern Methods, West Africa, Tribe, Ethnic, Hearts, Fern-Like, Glass, Recycled Glass, Dentistry, Necklace, Earrings, Bracelet, Leg Bangle, Boho-Inspired,
    $22.00
    $22.00
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  • Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Sandcast, Glass, Recycled, Yoruba, Krobo, Bottles, Old, Jars, Ethnic, Tribal, Statement, Jewellery, Necklaces, Bracelets, Boho, Cassava, Molds, Clay, Kiln, Mortar, Pestle, Wood-Burning, Leg Bangles, Collection, Mix, West Africa, Multicoloured, Brown, Topaz, Clear, Blue, Olive, Green,
    $22.00
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  • Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Sandcast, Glass, Recycled, Yoruba, Krobo, Bottles, Old, Jars, Ethnic, Tribal, Statement, Jewellery, Necklaces, Bracelets, Boho, Cassava, Molds, Clay, Kiln, Mortar, Pestle, Wood-Burning, Leg Bangles, Collection, Mix, West Africa, Multicoloured, Brown, Yellow, Red, Blue, White, Green, White,
    $22.00
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  • Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Sandcast, Glass, Recycled, Yoruba, Krobo, Bottles, Old, Jars, Ethnic, Tribal, Statement, Jewellery, Necklaces, Bracelets, Boho, Cassava, Molds, Clay, Kilns, Mortar, Pestle, Wood-Burning, Leg Bangles, Collection, Mix, West Africa,
    $22.00
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  • Tribal, Ethnic, Collection, African, Swahili, Kazuri, Giraffe, Handmade, Hand-Painted, Hand-Glazed, Beads, Kenya, Mount Kenya, Jewellery, Necklaces, Bracelets, Earrings, Nairobi,
    $26.00
    $26.00
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  • Vertebrae, Fish, Natural, Africa, Fish Beads, Concave, Spacers, Necklaces, Earrings, Jewellery, Tribal, Ethnic, Statement, Beads,
    $14.00
    $14.00
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  • India, Beads, Collection, Bone, Batik, Dyed, Recycled, Ethnic, Tribal, Boho, Vintage, North America, Asia, Thailand, Borneo, Indonesia, Ghana, Africa, China, Necklaces, Bracelets, Bangles, Costume Jewellery, Craft, Art, Teaching, Counting, Projects, Saucer Discs, Washers, Flat Discs, Rondelles, Tubes, Cylinders, Animals, Spacer Beads,
    $18.00
    $18.00
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  • Beads, FIMO, Fimo, Germany, Polymer Clay, Stubbies, Beer, South Africa, Jewellery, Specialty, Collectible,
    $26.00
    $26.00
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  • Africa, Ashanti, African, Ghana, Brass, Metal, Spiral Disks, 3rd Millennium, Lost-Wax, Central Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Baoule, Bronze, Lost Wax, Ancient Techniques, Krobo, Krobos, Metal-Casting, Beads, Molten Metal, Bead-Making, Modern Methods, West Africa, Tribe, Ethnic, Hearts, Fern-Like, Glass, Recycled Glass, Dentistry, Necklace, Bracelet, Leg Bangle, Boho-Inspired, Pendant Disks, Statement, Wheat Sheaf,
    $30.00
    $30.00
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  • Africa, African, Glass, Trade, African Trade Beads, Millefiori, Thousand Flowers, Multicoloured, Slave Beads, Hippy Beads, Love Beads, Mosaic Beads, Murrine, Rods, Canes, Currency, European Traders, Plateau Continent, Ivory, Food, Fabric, Gold, Status Symbol, Palm Oil, Slaves, Ethnic-Styled Jewellery, Flower Pattern, Appreciate, Investment, Rare, Collectable, Antique, Venice, Venetian,
    $150.00
    $150.00
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  • Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Sandcast, Glass, Recycled, Yoruba, Krobo, Bottles, Old, Jars, Ethnic, Tribal, Jewellery, Necklaces, Bracelets, Boho, Cassava, Molds, Clay, Kiln, Mortar, Pestle, Wood-Burning, Leg Bangles, Collection, Mix, West Africa, Multicoloured, Brown, Topaz, Clear, Blue, Olive, Green,
    $34.00
    $34.00
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  • Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Sandcast, Glass, Recycled, Yoruba, Krobo, Bottles, Old, Jars, Ethnic, Tribal, Jewellery, Necklaces, Bracelets, Boho, Cassava, Molds, Clay, Kiln, Mortar, Pestle, Wood-Burning, Leg Bangles, Collection, Mix, West Africa, Multicoloured, Brown, Topaz, Clear, Blue, Olive, Green,
    $20.00
    $20.00
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  • Turquoise, Polished, Semi-Precious, Matrix, Veins, Black, Brown, Himalayas, Slabs, Arizona, Nugget, Nugget, Jewellery-Making, Jewellery, Beaders, Collection, Mix, Necklace, Anklet, Bracelet, Earrings, Spiritual, Healing Qualities, Ethnic, Tribal, United States, Iran, Turkey, Chile, Tibet, Mexico, China, Statement, Green, Blue, Gemstone, Pebbles,
    $40.00
    $40.00
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  • Clay, West Africa, Handmade, Hand Painted, Clay, Cylinders, Tubular, Necklaces, Bracelets, Jewellery-Making,
    $30.00
    $30.00
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  • Africa, African, Glass, Trade, African Trade Beads, Millefiori, Thousand Flowers, Multicoloured, Slave Beads, Hippy Beads, Love Beads, Mosaic Beads, Murrine, Rods, Canes, Currency, European Traders, Plateau Continent, Ivory, Food, Fabric, Gold, Status Symbol, Palm Oil, Slaves, Ethnic-Styled Jewellery, Flower Pattern, Appreciate, Investment, Rare, Collectable, Antique, Venice, Venetian, Trade Beads, Ethnic, Strand, Vintage, Old,
    $492.00
    $492.00
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  • Africa, African, Glass, Trade, African Trade Beads, Millefiori, Thousand Flowers, Multicoloured, Slave Beads, Hippy Beads, Love Beads, Mosaic Beads, Murrine, Rods, Canes, Currency, European Traders, Plateau Continent, Ivory, Food, Fabric, Gold, Status Symbol, Palm Oil, Slaves, Ethnic-Styled Jewellery, Flower Pattern, Appreciate, Investment, Rare, Collectable, Antique, Venice, Venetian, Trade Beads, Ethnic, Strand, Vintage, Old,
    $226.00
    $226.00
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  • Africa, African, Glass, Trade, African Trade Beads, Millefiori, Thousand Flowers, Multicoloured, Slave Beads, Hippy Beads, Love Beads, Mosaic Beads, Murrine, Rods, Canes, Currency, European Traders, Plateau Continent, Ivory, Food, Fabric, Gold, Status Symbol, Palm Oil, Slaves, Ethnic-Styled Jewellery, Flower Pattern, Appreciate, Investment, Rare, Collectable, Antique, Venice, Venetian, Trade Beads, Ethnic, Strand, Vintage,
    $236.00
    $236.00
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