Library: Books about beads in Africa

We recommend these books about beads:


The Bead is Constant
Alexandra Wilson

This book introduces the reader to beads in Ghana through the histories of living people who wear, trade or produce beads.


The History of Beads: From 100,000 B.C. to the Present, Revised and Expanded Edition
Lois Sherr Dubin

The authoritative work on beads all around the world form 30,000 BC to the present. Sections both on African beads and beads traded with Africa and including a timeline of all beads showing the evolution of beads in Africa.

Beads and Beadwork of West and Central Africa (Shire ethnography)
Margret Carey

The historical background, design and technique of bead work in West and Central Africa.


Beads and Beadwork of East and South Africa (Shire ethnography)
Margret Carey




Beads of the World: A Collector's Guide With Revised Price Reference (A Schiffer Book for Collectors)
Peter Francis Jr

By the recently deceased world renowned expert on beads, this book covers both technique and design of beads around the world including in Africa and for Africa.


Beads: An Exploration on Bead Traditions Around the World
Janet Coles

The definitive book on the history of beads and bead-making techniques--with more than 350 full-color photos and step-by-step instructions for creating 30 beautiful, authentic beaded objects from a variety of world cultures.


Collectible Beads: A Universal Aesthetic (Beadwork Books)
Robert K Liu

Covering beads from many parts of the world with a section on African beads and beads traded with Africa.


Glass Beads from Europe: With Value Guide (A Schiffer Book for Collectors)
Sibylle Jargstorf

Although documenting the European glass bead industry, this book shows the design and economic links with Africa as well as the roots of the European glass industry in African beadmaking.


Chevron and Nueva Cadiz Beads (Beads from the West African Trade, Volume VII)
John Picard, Ruth Picard

The best reference work on chevrons and nueva cadiz beads that exists. Amply illustrated and packed with information.


Millefiori Beads from the West African Trade (Beads from the West African Trade, Vol VI)
John Picard, Ruth Picard
This book offers a comprehrensive insight in the colourful world of the many types beads used in the trade with West Africa. With about 3000 diffrent colour combinations of glass beads.


Russian Blues: Faceted and Fancy Beads for the West African Trade
John Picard, Ruth Picard
Again, the best reference available on Russian blues and other faceted trade beads.


FANCY BEADS FROM THE WEST AFRICAN TRADE VOLUME III
John Picard, Ruth Picard
Another definative bead reference book.

Artisan: Paul Amponsah

I'm Paul Amponsah , 29 years old and 5 feet tall. I speak Twi and English.

I work with brass handicraft at Kurofrom a village near Kumasi the capital of the Ashanti Region. I learnt brass casting from my uncle at the age of 9 when I used to help him after school hours and weekends. As a child I was interested in cultural items and the status that gold held in our society.My first design was a bird. My uncle was very proud of me that day!! I completed school in 1997. I worked with my uncle for 2 years, now he is in America so he handed over the business to me which is growing since then.In 1999 I was chosen by UNESCO to travel to Murano one of the world centres in glass bead making in Italy to learn more about other hand made beads cultures. The trip was very interesting and educational.At present I have fifteen workers, ten are masters and the other five are apprentices. I have some visitors too from out side the country who came and learnt this unique art from me. I love to travel out side the country to teach others about Brass Bead making. I love what I am doing. I am supporting my parents and helping a lot in the community I'm not married.

Artisan: Oklah Tetteh

My name is Oklah Tetteh and I am 32 years old. I am in village called Obawale Tsebi in Manya Krobo which located in the Eastern Region of Ghana. I was born into a Krobo family with a long history of bead-making

At the age of ten years, I was already familiar with bead-making because my father is a bead-maker. I helped my father after school hours whilst in the basic school. Therefore, from my father I learnt bead-making and practiced it as a part time job after my basic education.In 1993, I established a small bead production workshop, starting with Powder Glass beads. I made only 'bodoum' bead designs in 1994 and I introduced Recycled Glass Beads with new sizes and different colour combination. In 1996, my beads did well on the market therefore attracting more customers. I started exporting my products to the U.S., U.K., Germany, Italy, and Denmark, just to mention a few. Due to the quality of my products and prompt delivery, I received orders from eshopAfrica from 1997 till date of which I also play my part as a supplier. My company keeps expanding as the days go by.I am currently looking forward to help people who are jobless and willing to learn bead-making to earn a better living.I am a family man with two boys namely; Evans Tetteh who is four years old and Desmond Tetteh who is almost one year old.

Artisan: Florence Martey, TK Beads

Florence Martey of T K Designer Beads. Florence is one Ghana's leading bead designers who produce high quality hand-made designer beads. It is very unusual to find women running a bead manufacturing business. Her designs draw both on traditional and modern themes and, as with many West African artisans, her use of colour is outstanding. Her beads are greatly sought after in Ghana - she makes them using the powder glass method. Pieces of uncoloured glass are ground to a powder and then coloured and poured into bead moulds in the same way as different coloured sands are poured to make sand pictures. The beads are then baked to fuse them together.

Florence says: "Three years ago in 2005, TK bead industry was moved from Odumasi-Krobo, which is my home-town, to Amrahia on the Accra-Dodowa road near the Christian University College.The reason for this migration is because most of our customers are from Accra and continuously complained of the long distance creating some sort of inconvenience for them.From 2006 to 2007, T.K. beads have been to overseas for Trade-fairs, exhibition as well as lecturing on how Traditional Ghanaian Beads are made. We traveled on two occasions to California and once in New York for Trade shows. T.K. beads was also invited to Tanzania in the year 2007 for six weeks lesson period to teach an N.G.O. about the production of Ghanaian beads, of which they are currently practicing.For the past three years, T.K. Bead Industry has expanded greatly. We started with fifteen workers and now we have twenty-five workers; fifteen males and ten females. We also engage in training interested people in bead-making. A show room is being put up and will be completed very soon.The fact is I never regretted being a bead producer. We still love our work because it is the best and also generates good income which enhances a better living. I am therefore urging workers to be serious with their work especially those in the bead-making industry because it is the best source good living.My husband and I have been married for eleven years and we are blessed with two kids; a boy and a girl who are twelve 12 and eight 8 years respectively. "

Artisan - Kumah of Lizzy Beads

Kumah of Lizzy Beads is a well known bead maker and is the designer of the colourful and creative line of Lizzy Beads

Gallery: Process: Recycled Glass Beads Workshop

Beads made from recylced glass are one of our most popular bead items. Their colour and form invite touch and as each bead is individually made, each is unique. How they are made is documented below.










First moulds of different sizes are made. To see how the moulds are made see the Powder Glass Beads Workshop page.   



Recycled glass is crushed by hand. Unlike with powder glass beads, dyes and colours cannot be added so the glass used must be the right colour for the resulting bead.   



The resulting crushed glass mixture is called "fritt". For recylced glass beads the glass does not have to be crushed to a fine powder. Some larger pieces can be left as they melt down during the baking process.       



The fritt is then used to fill the moulds. As with powder glass beads the moulds are coated with a fine mixture of kaolin clay and water before being filled to prevent sticking.   



A tray of moulds for a larger sized bead filled with fritt.   
        

   
The moulds are put into a kiln to be baked. The kiln has to be hot enough to melt down the lumps of glass in the fritt.   



From experience the bead makers know the right temperature and how long to leave the moulds in the kiln to achieve the right degree of melting.   




When the right temperature has been reached the beadmaker takes out the mould. He uses two awls - one to hold down the mould and the other to shape bead.   
        
He spins the gather of glass round to shape it and then flips it over to shape the other side.   

 

Here you can see the hole made by one of the awls... this is skilled work which has to be done quickly before the glass cools.  


        
The finished results. Beads made from recycled glass in blue tones...


   
    
     ... and in earth tones. These beads and others made from recycled glass are available on eShopAfrica.com   

Beads Cocktail Necklace

Creativity has no beginning and no end, so does the art of bead designing it always re-emerges in different forms and contexts. Beads in Ghana symbolizes links among people in different ways through all aspects of life, it also represents the link between heritage,creativity and change. This necklace includes beads made from wide variety of materials, coral,trade beads, ebony, coconut shells,recycled brass, recycled glass, seeds and stone.it is a piece of variety of beads used by Ghanians in different cultural and traditional occasions.
The weight is 2kg.
email us for more info or if you have any questions: info [at] eShopAfrica.com.

Feedback: Beads: Valerie, Canada

I received the brass beads yesterday and I'm really pleased. Thanks for the extras. Please keep me informed of any different styles that you get in. Thanks

Stars pendants

1.Recycled bottles will be crushed into pieces which called"fritt"

2.The moulds are put into a kiln to be baked.

The kiln has to be hot enough to melt down the lumps of glass in the fritt.

3.The hole made by an awl... this is skilled work which has to be done

quickly before the glass cools.

4.When cool they are polished on a stone using sand and water. This grinds down the rough edges and removes the kaolin.

5. Cute and beautiful...what do you think????