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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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Antique Fried-Egg Matching Black Venetian Trade Beads - The Bead Chest Sold out
$175.00 - $175.00
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$175.00

Antique Fried-Egg Matching Black Venetian Trade Beads

Out of stock

Old Trade beads such as these are as beautiful in their design as they are exceptional in their craftsmanship. Venetian glass beads were known for ...

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$175.00 - $175.00
$175.00
$175.00
$175.00 - $175.00
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Antique Black Venetian Skunk Eye Beads - The Bead Chest Sold out
$159.00 - $159.00
$159.00
$159.00
$159.00 - $159.00
$159.00

Antique Black Venetian Skunk Eye Beads

Out of stock

Old Trade beads such as these are as beautiful in their design as they are exceptional in their craftsmanship. Venetian glass beads were known for ...

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$159.00 - $159.00
$159.00
$159.00
$159.00 - $159.00
$159.00
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Yellow Striped Watermelon Chevron Beads - The Bead Chest Sold out
$39.00
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$39.00
$36.00
$36.00 - $36.00
$36.00

Yellow Striped Watermelon Chevron Beads

Out of stock

Take a look at this beautiful strand of Blue/Black Venetian Watermelon Chevron Beads. Venetian Chevron style beads like this have been produced for...

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$39.00
$39.00 - $39.00
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$36.00
$36.00 - $36.00
$36.00
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Brown Ghana Glass Beads (7mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$9.25 - $9.25
$9.25
$9.25
$9.25 - $9.25
$9.25

Brown Ghana Glass Beads (7mm)

Out of stock

High-quality strand of brown color small glass beads from Ghana. Each bead measures approximately 4 x 7mm with strand length of 27". Some variation...

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$9.25 - $9.25
$9.25
$9.25
$9.25 - $9.25
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Brown Vintage Saucer Prosser Button Beads (6mm) - The Bead Chest
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$31.00 - $31.00
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$31.00 - $31.00
$31.00

Brown Vintage Saucer Prosser Button Beads (6mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at these original, vintage button beads made using the famous "Prosser" technique. Originally from Czechoslovakia, these brown glass sa...

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$31.00 - $31.00
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$31.00 - $31.00
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Thousand Eye King Beads - The Bead Chest
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$59.00
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$35.00
$35.00 - $35.00
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Thousand Eye King Beads

Out of stock

Beautiful strand of glass beads in a nice multicolor color. The strand has approximately 45 beads and measures 31" in length. Each bead measures 15...

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$59.00
$59.00 - $59.00
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$35.00
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Ivory Coast Style Wound Bicone Ghana Brass Beads (18x12mm) - The Bead Chest
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$22.50 - $22.50
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$22.50

Ivory Coast Style Wound Bicone Ghana Brass Beads (18x12mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at these bicone-shaped Ghana brass trade beads from Africa. This special strand is made in Ghana, but inspired by the Ivory Coast style...

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$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
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$22.50 - $22.50
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Grey Kente Krobo Beads (18mm) - The Bead Chest
$21.50 - $21.50
$21.50
$21.50
$21.50 - $21.50
$21.50

Grey Kente Krobo Beads (18mm)

Only 5 left!

A beautiful strand of powder glass African beads, made by the people of Krobo Mountain in Ghana, West Africa. Many designs of Krobo beads are patte...

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$21.50 - $21.50
$21.50
$21.50
$21.50 - $21.50
$21.50
Jumbo Azul Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (25mm) - The Bead Chest
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$45.00
$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00
$37.00
$37.00 - $37.00
$37.00

Jumbo Azul Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (25mm)

Only 10 left!

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

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$45.00
$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00
$37.00
$37.00 - $37.00
$37.00
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Baby Blue Antique Matching Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads (Long Strand) - The Bead Chest
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$375.00
$375.00 - $375.00
$375.00
$325.00
$325.00 - $325.00
$325.00

Baby Blue Antique Matching Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads (Long Strand)

Out of stock

WOW! Take a look at this beautiful antique strand of Venetian Millefiori trade beads! Old Venetian glass in this light blue color is rare and hard ...

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$375.00
$375.00 - $375.00
$375.00
$325.00
$325.00 - $325.00
$325.00
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Super Jumbo Baby Blue Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (35mm) - The Bead Chest
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$49.00 - $49.00
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$49.00
$49.00 - $49.00
$49.00

Super Jumbo Baby Blue Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (35mm)

Out of stock

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

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$49.00 - $49.00
$49.00
$49.00
$49.00 - $49.00
$49.00
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Super Jumbo Amber Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (35mm) - The Bead Chest
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$45.00 - $45.00
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$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00

Super Jumbo Amber Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (35mm)

Out of stock

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

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$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00
$45.00
$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00
Sold out
Old Black & White Skunk Eye Beads (Long Strand) - The Bead Chest
$525.00 - $525.00
$525.00
$525.00
$525.00 - $525.00
$525.00

Old Black & White Skunk Eye Beads (Long Strand)

Only 1 left!

These exceptional black Skunk Eye beads are a beauty to behold. Old trade beads such as these originate in Venice, Italy where they were produced a...

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$525.00 - $525.00
$525.00
$525.00
$525.00 - $525.00
$525.00
Antique Black & White Yellow Jacket Chevron Beads - The Bead Chest
Save 11% Save %
$269.00
$269.00 - $269.00
$269.00
$239.00
$239.00 - $239.00
$239.00

Antique Black & White Yellow Jacket Chevron Beads

Only 5 left!

Own a piece of history with this beautiful, collectible strand of authentic yellow jacket chevron beads. Venetian chevron beads are the most sought...

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$269.00
$269.00 - $269.00
$269.00
$239.00
$239.00 - $239.00
$239.00
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Rare Venetian Antique Raised Flower Beads - The Bead Chest
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$535.00 - $535.00
$535.00
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$535.00

Rare Venetian Antique Raised Flower Beads

Out of stock

Prized by collectors and bead aficionados, raised Venetian Flower Beads such as these are rare and hard to find. Possibly found buried after an ext...

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$535.00 - $535.00
$535.00
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Ghanaian Brown Sandcast Cylinder Beads - The Bead Chest
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$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
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$8.00

Ghanaian Brown Sandcast Cylinder Beads

Out of stock

Checkout this beautiful strand of African sandcast. The process of making these beads is unique to Africa and has been used for over 1000 years. Pu...

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$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
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Yellow Stripe Antique Matching Venetian Trade Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$165.00 - $165.00
$165.00
$165.00
$165.00 - $165.00
$165.00

Yellow Stripe Antique Matching Venetian 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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$165.00 - $165.00
$165.00
$165.00
$165.00 - $165.00
$165.00
Sold out
Wound Flattened Bicone Ghana Brass Beads (31x17mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$24.50 - $24.50
$24.50
$24.50
$24.50 - $24.50
$24.50

Wound Flattened Bicone Ghana Brass Beads (31x17mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at these bicone-shaped Ghana Brass Trade Beads from Africa. Each bead is made individually using the "Lost Wax process" technique. This...

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$24.50 - $24.50
$24.50
$24.50
$24.50 - $24.50
$24.50
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Vintage Lime Green Vinyl Phono Record Beads (15mm) - The Bead Chest
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$39.00 - $39.00
$39.00
$39.00
$39.00 - $39.00
$39.00

Vintage Lime Green Vinyl Phono Record Beads (15mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at these beautiful vintage beads made from phono records. Each strand measures approximately 28-32" long with beads measuring 15mm in d...

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$39.00 - $39.00
$39.00
$39.00
$39.00 - $39.00
$39.00
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Orange Mosaic Antique Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
$179.00
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00

Orange Mosaic Antique 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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$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
$179.00
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
Sold out
Bumblebee Medley Vinyl Phono Record Beads (10mm) - The Bead Chest
Save 64% Save %
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$4.99
$4.99 - $4.99
$4.99

Bumblebee Medley Vinyl Phono Record Beads (10mm)

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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$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$4.99
$4.99 - $4.99
$4.99
Save 64% Save %
Vintage Sliced Blue Sandcast Beads - The Bead Chest
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$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00

Vintage Sliced Blue Sandcast Beads

Out of stock

These beautiful blue powder glass beads, also known as blue sandcast, are vintage beads from West Africa. Powder glass beads in this unique sliced ...

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$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
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Ghana Medley Vinyl Phono Record Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
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$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50

Ghana Medley 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
White Granite-Style Ghana Glass Beads (25x10mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00

White Granite-Style Ghana Glass Beads (25x10mm)

Out of stock

Admire these beautiful glass beads from Ghana designed to imitate authentic granite. These cylindrical beads are rich in detail and texture. Each b...

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$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
Sold out