Gashi Necklace w/ Trade Beads

Gashi Beads: In the local language “gashi” means fired. These are West African beads from Ghana. The beads are pressed in moulds, then fired. They are often left with a granular, opaque surface and sometimes polished to acquire a deep, glowing color ranging from green to blue to brown.

Trade Beads: Trade beads are the most ornate type of beads. Also known as “Venetian Millefiori” (thousand flowers), these mosaic glass beads originate from ancient Roman and Egyptian times. They were brought to West Africa by traders and were used as currency. So prized at the time, A single bead could buy a slave.

Ambassador Beads: Made in the pressed glass method. Known as Flanders. Specifically used as gifts for chiefs from European traders and ambassadors. Dutch Blue opaque beads from Holland were machine made. Known to the Ndebele tribe as ambassador beads. In 1910 Rhodesian chiefs gave them to witch doctors and were taken to the sacred mountains for religious ceremonies to ask advice from the great god of Matabele. *Noted explorer David Livingstone made mention of these beads after visiting Victoria Falls in 1855, that the chiefs who he’d met were wearing them. A very popular bead all over Africa.