TIPS AND TRICKS

warrenfeldby Warren Feld
blog.landofodds.com

Occasional insights into beading, jewelry making, and business…

CURRENT TIPS AND TRICKS BLOG ARTICLES

Making Handmade African Trade or Mosaic Beads



Mosaic bead work developed around 1000 B.C.  The bead maker twists a piece of copper wire in the left hand and a glass rod in the right in front of a small furnace.  When the glass reaches the right point, he takes the rod to one side, leaving the molten base bead on the copper wire. With tweezers, he picks up slices of mosaic glass cane and places them onto the molten bead.  He continues turning the bead in front of the heat and the cane melt and fuse together.  Taking the bead away from the heat, he places it in a round mold where it is pressed to give its final shape.  The pressed bead is left in a cooling oven for 24 hours, then immersed in an acid bath to free the wire and give a good edge to the hole.

 

 

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