The African Goddess collection is not built from one material but from several, each with a different history. Knowing which is which changes how you see the whole strand:

Chevron Beads: The layered star pattern is made by drawing molten glass through a star-shaped mold, layer over layer, then grinding the ends to reveal the rings. Venetian in origin, they traveled African trade routes for five centuries.

Powder Glass: Recycled glass ground fine and kiln-fired in clay molds, made across Ghana. Matte, slightly irregular, and often hand-painted after firing.

Batik Bone: Carved bone, dyed and then etched so the pattern shows pale against dark. Every piece is worked by hand, and the geometry differs bead to bead.

Cast Brass: Formed by the lost-wax method — a wax model packed in clay, melted out, replaced with molten metal. The mold is destroyed to release the casting, so each one is singular.

Millefiori Trade Beads: Venetian glass beads carried to West Africa in enormous quantity, and now woven so thoroughly into the region’s adornment that they read as African rather than European. 

A Journey Through History

• Beads as Currency: For centuries beads functioned as money, dowry and diplomatic gift across West Africa. Value was held in strands, not coins.

• The Trade Routes: Venetian and Bohemian glassmakers produced beads specifically for African markets from the fifteenth century onward, sending them south in vast quantity.

• Aggrey Beads: Certain old beads, known as aggrey, were prized above all others and passed down through families as heirlooms rather than ornament.

• Meaning in Pattern: Across the region, pattern and color carried meaning — status, occasion, lineage. A strand was information as much as decoration.

Every bead in this collection traveled before it reached you — by trade route, by inheritance, by hand. That history is part of what you are wearing.

With love,

Janette Marie 🧡

Care Tips

To maintain the beauty of your pieces:

• Store Properly: Keep them in a jewelry box to avoid tangling.
• Clean Gently: Use a soft cloth to wipe away dirt and oils, especially if adorned with gemstones.
• Avoid Harsh Chemicals: Keep them away from perfumes and lotions to prevent tarnishing.