Beer and ale bottles, mineral water bottles, Depression era dinnerware, and Pond’s Cold Cream jars are used for our beautiful assortment of colored translucent glass pieces.

Waist beads, worn under clothing, are a very personal adornment, normally hidden from view of the opposite sex.

Teenagers often prefer to wear them outside their clothing, reminiscent of bra-burning in the 1960's.

Glass beads continue to be a highly prized adornment in Ghana, both for their inherent beauty and as a sign of the wearer's wealth and status.

Recycled glass

Glass buttons are the contemporary version of a traditional craft which has been a part of the Krobo culture since at least 1500 AD.

The process of making glass beads and buttons is tedious.

Individual molds with five indentations for buttons or beads are handmade from clay. These can be used for 3-4 firings and are then replaced with new molds.

Collected glass is crushed with mallots and chunks placed in each mold. Designs are made by mixing ceramic pigments with fine powdered glass and pouring it in layers to form the pattern.

One at a time, the molds are placed into a woodburning kiln and fired for 20-40 minutes. The heat melts and anneals the glass, making for a strong bond. Holes are made with cassava stalks, which burn away in the firing, or with an awl as the piece is removed from the kiln.

In some workshops, the resulting charcoal is sold as a secondary product.

Traditional Kente cloth weavers and fabric printers incorporate symbols into their weaving . These often come from dreams, are rememberances of important occasions, or departed loved ones.

These same symbols from Akan and Ashante societies have been adopted for many of our brass buttons and beads.