Open Daily: 10am - 10pm | Alley door pickup 10am - 7pm 3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
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  • Open Daily: 10am - 10pm
    Alley-side Pickup: 10am - 7pm

    3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
    612-822-4611

Open Daily: 10am - 10pm | Alley-side Pickup: 10am - 7pm
3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
612-822-4611
Wild Beads of Africa: Old Powderglass Beads from the Collection of Billy Steinberg

Wild Beads of Africa: Old Powderglass Beads from the Collection of Billy Steinberg

Steinberg, Billy
Allen, Jamey

Hardcover

African ArtGeneral Art

Currently unavailable to order

ISBN10: 0692907106
ISBN13: 9780692907108
Publisher: Steinberg
Published: May 21 2019
Pages: 216
Weight: 2.85
Height: 1.00 Width: 9.70 Depth: 11.10
Language: English

These rare and mysterious beads, made in Ghana and used by the Krobo and Ashanti peoples, are regarded as magical and are worn proudly as a symbol of prestige and wealth.

This is the first book dedicated to African powderglass beads, with over 180 photographs of gorgeous pieces from a collection assembled by songwriter Billy Steinberg (co-writer of Madonna's Like a Virgin).

Most of the pieces showcased in this handsomely designed volume are West African beads often referred to as Bodom or Akoso, and were made by Ashanti and Ewe people in Ghana and Togo during the 19th century using finely ground glass sourced from broken bottles, windows or other beads, creating brightly colorful pieces in shiny colors with a handmade textural quality.

Highly detailed photography by Fredrik Nilsen provides a comprehensive look at the collection, along with texts by scholar Jamey D. Allen about the history, classification and glassmaking technologies employed in the varieties of beads covered in the book. A glossary provided by Allen also makes this a useful reference title.

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