Meat Slab Jasper and African Abo Bead Necklace

by Deborah Hall
(South Africa)

I couldn't help it - this gorgeous chunk of shiny jasper is the color of liver - it looks like a slab of meat! It's irregularly shaped, and has swirls of a gold/wheat in it. I wrapped it with copper wire and hung it on a strand of glass seed beads.

Just above the jasper is a row of Abo (bauxite) beads. These beads are created mainly by the Krobo people of Ghana. They are made of bauxite, a rock, mainly consisting of aluminum ore that is usually found near industrial areas, specifically, the Akosombo Dam, which created Lake Volta, one of the biggest man-made lakes in the world. They are each unique and imperfect, with the rich, brownish-red color typical of African soil.

I handcrafted the clasp and made free form swirls and a handmade chain out of copper wire to dangle down your back, or to use as an extension chain to make the necklace longer.

I strung the necklace on nylon coated stainless steel for strength and durability.

The jasper chunk measures approximately 4cm x 3cm (1.5 inches x just over an inch).


The necklace is 47cm (18.5 inches) with an extension chain of 3cm (1 1/4 inch).

Deborah Hall
Singing Heat Jewelry