Set of 3 large powderglass beads, two designed to imitate "Bodom" beads
Rounded beads 25 and 27mm diameter, oval bead 42mm long.
All have very large to very large holes, 2 to 6mm
The two rounded beads have bodom-like designs, but these beads, including the surface decoration are made entirely of crushed glass heated just enough to fuse the material. The surface design is baked into the bead in the mold. To me this seems a more difficult process than trailing a molten glass design on the surface.
Genuine old Bodom beads have the surface design applied in molten glass to the outer layers of large powderglass beads. This technique has been lost, but I suspect it will be recreated as more Ghanaians learn flame-working skills.
The name Bodom has been applied to large, old, usually yellow, powderglass beads for decades, but this is a misnomer. The term Bodom actually applies only to beads belonging to the Queen Mother of the Ashanti, which have not been seen recently, but are thought to include old genuine Bodom beads as well as gold beads and large European and Islamic trade beads.Jamey Allen is promoting “old powderglass beads” as an alternate term. The Krobo word for large focal beads, including, but not limited to powderglass, is “kpo.” Here we are dealing with relatively new (1970s to present) powderglass beads that imitate, or are inspired by, Bodom beads so I’m just sticking with powderglass.
From the collection of Joyce Diamanti, bead researcher, writer and educator. These beads were collected in Ghana during the early 1970s when we lived in neighboring Cote d'Ivoire. Only one set available
Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
Press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection.
