Ghana Copper, Ashanti, Spiral Rondelle, 8x4mm, 20in Strand

Ghana Copper, Ashanti, Spiral Rondelle, 8x4mm, 3mm Hole

This price is for one 20 inch strand

8x4mm strands have approx. 125 pieces

Ghanaian brass beads are more than just jewelry; they are miniature sculptures with a history spanning centuries. Primarily crafted by the Ashanti (Asante) people in the Kumasi region of Ghana, these beads were traditionally used as a primary form of commodity money. Instead of carrying a wallet, people wore their savings. Large coiled copper anklets or heavy neck rings could be spent or traded for livestock, land, or even used in dowries.

These beads aren't cast in a mold like the famous "lost wax" weight systems. Instead, they are made through cold-working or heat-forging: Artisans hammer and pull copper into long, thin, uniform wires. The wire is tightly wound around a core, often a wooden mandrel or another piece of thick wire, to create a spring-like cylinder. The ends are tucked or hammered flat to ensure they don't snag the wearer.

Made in Ghana