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Ghana Beads

Ghana is home to the largest bead markets in Africa. Below are African beads imported from Ghana. Trade beads have a long history in the West African country of Ghana. In fact, Ghana beads were once a form of national currency and were used to purchase many different kinds of goods including alcohol, slaves, and even textiles. The production of beads in Ghana was first documented over 200 years ago however evidence of bead production extends over two thousand years. Due to their use in trade, beads in Ghana may have a wide variety of origins that trace ancient and modern trade routes including Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Modern Ghana overlaps with the terrain of the ancient Ghana Empire.

A number of bead varieties are locally produced in Ghana. These include recycled glass beads that are made from empty glass bottles, seashell beads, as well as Krobo beads. The manufacturing of recycled beads is one way that the people of Ghana use traditional inspiration to bring new uses to old materials. The process involves breaking used bottles in pieces that are then melted and shaped using clay molds designed with the desired shape in mind. Beads may be washed in sand and then painted with designs.

Similarly, Ghana is one of the most important countries for the manufacture of Krobo beads. This name Krobo, is derived from the fact that a great deal of the powdered glass beads in Ghana are produced Krobo artisans. However craftsmen from the Ashanti ethnic group are also heavily involved in this production. Beads continue to play a role in traditional Krobo culture where they are used for many different ceremonies such as birth, marriage, death, and coming of age rituals such as Dipo where girls where a large number of beads and perform special dances. African beads are also used as a symbol of status and are worn by community leaders and chiefs.

In recent years, there has been a revival in the use of trade beads in Ghana so much so that young people are wearing them as an expression of pride in African tradition. Interestingly, the different colors that are used in the design of beads have different symbolism such as blue that represents purity, white that represents fertility, and gold that represents wealth.

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Pastel Yellow Vintage Czech Cylinder Beads (4x6mm) - The Bead Chest
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Pastel Yellow Vintage Czech Cylinder Beads (4x6mm)

in stock

Take a look at this lovely strand of Pastel Yellow Vintage Czech Beads. Originally made in Bohemia aka the Czech Republic these beads have a distin...

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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
Jumbo Blue Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (23mm) - The Bead Chest
$27.00 - $27.00
$27.00
$27.00
$27.00 - $27.00
$27.00

Jumbo Blue Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (23mm)

in stock

Take a look at this exceptionally large strand of jumbo-sized recycled glass beads. Large beads such as these are hard to find and even harder to f...

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$27.00 - $27.00
$27.00
$27.00
$27.00 - $27.00
$27.00
Green and Brown Sandcast Powder Glass Beads (2 Strands) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$6.50 - $6.50
$6.50
$6.50
$6.50 - $6.50
$6.50

Green and Brown Sandcast Powder Glass Beads (2 Strands)

Out of stock

Checkout these beautiful strands of multicolor sandcast beads from Ghana, West Africa. The process of making these beads is unique to Africa and ha...

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$6.50 - $6.50
$6.50
$6.50
$6.50 - $6.50
$6.50
Sold out
Basket Design Brass Filigree Globe Beads (20mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$26.00 - $26.00
$26.00
$26.00
$26.00 - $26.00
$26.00

Basket Design Brass Filigree Globe Beads (20mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at these Brass "Globe" trade beads from Africa. Each bead is made individually through the "Lost Wax process" technique. The strand i...

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$26.00 - $26.00
$26.00
$26.00
$26.00 - $26.00
$26.00
Sold out
Rasta Medley Vinyl Phono Record Beads (4mm) - The Bead Chest
Save 43% Save %
$7.00
$7.00 - $7.00
$7.00
$3.99
$3.99 - $3.99
$3.99

Rasta Medley Vinyl Phono Record Beads (4mm)

in stock

Take a look at this beautiful strand of African vinyl beads in a multicolor color. Beads such as these are found in Ghana and Nigeria where they ar...

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$7.00
$7.00 - $7.00
$7.00
$3.99
$3.99 - $3.99
$3.99
Save 43% Save %
Caged Bicone Brass Filigree Beads (15x17mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50

Caged Bicone Brass Filigree Beads (15x17mm)

Out of stock

These Brass trade beads are from Ghana, Africa. Each bead is made individually through the "Lost Wax process" technique. The strand is about 24" lo...

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$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
Sold out
Cameroon Style Flat Bicone Brass Filigree Beads (31x16mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$22.00 - $22.00
$22.00
$22.00
$22.00 - $22.00
$22.00

Cameroon Style Flat Bicone Brass Filigree Beads (31x16mm)

Out of stock

These Brass trade beads are from Ghana, Africa. Each bead is made individually through the "Lost Wax process" technique. The strand is about 27" l...

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$22.00 - $22.00
$22.00
$22.00
$22.00 - $22.00
$22.00
Sold out
Triangle Pinwheel Ghana Brass Filigree Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$22.00 - $22.00
$22.00
$22.00
$22.00 - $22.00
$22.00

Triangle Pinwheel Ghana Brass Filigree Beads

Out of stock

Take a look at these Brass "Triangle" trade beads from Africa. Each bead is made individually through the "Lost Wax process" technique. The strand...

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$22.00 - $22.00
$22.00
$22.00
$22.00 - $22.00
$22.00
Sold out
Maroon Vinyl Phono Record Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50

Maroon Vinyl Phono Record Beads (14mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at this beautiful strand of African vinyl beads. Beads such as these are found in Ghana and Nigeria where they are sometimes worn as wa...

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$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
Sold out
Brown Mosaic Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads - The Bead Chest
$11.50 - $11.50
$11.50
$11.50
$11.50 - $11.50
$11.50

Brown Mosaic Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads

Only 1 left!

These great beads are made by the Krobo People of Ghana, Africa. Powder glass beads are made by crushing glass to a fine powder and heating it so t...

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$11.50 - $11.50
$11.50
$11.50
$11.50 - $11.50
$11.50
Yellow Venetian Oval Striped Trade Beads (Extra Long Strand) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
$179.00
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00

Yellow Venetian Oval Striped Trade Beads (Extra Long Strand)

Out of stock

Admire this beautiful strand of antique Venetian trade beads! Venetian glass beads such as these were made throughout the 19th and 20th century pri...

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$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
$179.00
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
Sold out
Yellow Oval Striped Venetian Trade Beads (One of a Kind) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$159.00 - $159.00
$159.00
$159.00
$159.00 - $159.00
$159.00

Yellow Oval Striped Venetian Trade Beads (One of a Kind)

Out of stock

Admire this beautiful strand of antique Venetian trade beads! Venetian glass beads such as these were made throughout the 19th and 20th century pri...

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$159.00 - $159.00
$159.00
$159.00
$159.00 - $159.00
$159.00
Sold out
Yellow & Green Cylindrical Striped Venetian Trade Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$159.00 - $159.00
$159.00
$159.00
$159.00 - $159.00
$159.00

Yellow & Green Cylindrical Striped Venetian Trade Beads

Out of stock

Admire this beautiful, EXTRA LONG strand of antique Venetian trade beads! Venetian glass beads such as these were made throughout the 19th and 20th...

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$159.00 - $159.00
$159.00
$159.00
$159.00 - $159.00
$159.00
Sold out
$43.00 - $43.00
$43.00
$43.00
$43.00 - $43.00
$43.00

Jumbo Bauxite Disk Beads (19mm)

Only 9 left!

Admire this exceptional strand of bauxite stone bead from Ghana, West Africa. Also known commonly as pipestone, these unusually-sized beads have be...

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$43.00 - $43.00
$43.00
$43.00
$43.00 - $43.00
$43.00
Pink Vintage Vinyl Phono Record Beads (12mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00
$45.00
$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00

Pink Vintage Vinyl Phono Record Beads (12mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at this exceptional strand of vintage vinyl beads. Said to be made from vulcanized rubber or recycled phonograph records, beads such as...

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$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00
$45.00
$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00
Sold out
Yellow & Blue Venetian Watermelon Chevron Beads (16x7mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$23.00
$23.00 - $23.00
$23.00
$19.00
$19.00 - $19.00
$19.00

Yellow & Blue Venetian Watermelon Chevron Beads (16x7mm)

Out of stock

Take a second to marvel at these unique Yellow and Blue Venetian Watermelon Chevron Beads. Artisan Venetian Glass beads have been crafted and produ...

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$23.00
$23.00 - $23.00
$23.00
$19.00
$19.00 - $19.00
$19.00
Sold out
Old Antique Venetian Yellow Oval Striped Trade Beads (Green Stripe) - The Bead Chest
$135.00 - $135.00
$135.00
$135.00
$135.00 - $135.00
$135.00

Old Antique Venetian Yellow Oval Striped Trade Beads (Green Stripe)

Only 3 left!

Admire this beautiful strand of antique Venetian trade beads! Venetian glass beads such as these were made throughout the 19th and 20th century pri...

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$135.00 - $135.00
$135.00
$135.00
$135.00 - $135.00
$135.00
Yellow & Green Striped Venetian Watermelon Chevron Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$24.50 - $24.50
$24.50
$24.50
$24.50 - $24.50
$24.50

Yellow & Green Striped Venetian Watermelon Chevron Beads

Out of stock

Checkout these beautiful Venetian trade beads, known as watermelon chevron. Similar to the commonly known Chevrons, they display a colorful set of ...

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$24.50 - $24.50
$24.50
$24.50
$24.50 - $24.50
$24.50
Sold out
Vintage Vinyl Phono Record Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00
$45.00
$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00

Vintage Vinyl Phono Record Beads (14mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at this exceptional strand of vintage vinyl beads. Said to be made from vulcanized rubber or recycled phonograph records, beads such as...

View full details
$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00
$45.00
$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00
Sold out
Sliced Sandcast Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50

Sliced Sandcast Beads

Out of stock

Checkout this beautiful multicolored strand of African sandcast beads. The process of making these beads is unique to Africa and has been used for ...

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$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
Sold out
Dark Grey Ashanti Glass Saucer Beads (18mm) - The Bead Chest
$19.00 - $19.00
$19.00
$19.00
$19.00 - $19.00
$19.00

Dark Grey Ashanti Glass Saucer Beads (18mm)

in stock

Checkout this beautiful strand of grey color Ashanti glass saucer beads. The process of making these beads is unique to Africa and has been used fo...

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$19.00 - $19.00
$19.00
$19.00
$19.00 - $19.00
$19.00
Black & White Medley Colodonte Trade Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$35.00
$35.00 - $35.00
$35.00
$29.00
$29.00 - $29.00
$29.00

Black & White Medley Colodonte Trade Beads

Out of stock

Colodonte beads are a type of African trade beads which originate from former Czechoslovakia. Originally produced by skilled Czech artisans, these ...

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$35.00
$35.00 - $35.00
$35.00
$29.00
$29.00 - $29.00
$29.00
Sold out
Star Design Circular Brass Filigree Beads (21mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$22.00 - $22.00
$22.00
$22.00
$22.00 - $22.00
$22.00

Star Design Circular Brass Filigree Beads (21mm)

Out of stock

These Brass "Round Flat" trade beads are from Ghana, Africa. Each bead is made individually through the "Lost Wax process" technique. The strand is...

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$22.00 - $22.00
$22.00
$22.00
$22.00 - $22.00
$22.00
Sold out
Blue Flower Antique Matching Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$245.00 - $245.00
$245.00
$245.00
$245.00 - $245.00
$245.00

Blue Flower Antique Matching Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads

Out of stock

Take a look at this beautiful antique strand of Venetian Millefiori trade beads! Celebrated among the most distinctive of beads, the Millefiori has...

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$245.00 - $245.00
$245.00
$245.00
$245.00 - $245.00
$245.00
Sold out