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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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Teal Aja Krobo Powder Glass Beads - The Bead Chest Sold out
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50

Teal Aja Krobo Powder Glass Beads

Out of stock

A beautiful strand of powder glass African beads, made by the people of Krobo Mountain (Ghana, West Africa), reproducing old Venetian FANCY trade b...

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$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
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Olive Green Ghana Glass Beads (4mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$5.00 - $5.00
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$5.00 - $5.00
$5.00

Olive Green Ghana Glass Beads (4mm)

Out of stock

Beautiful strand of green color small glass beads from Ghana. Each bead measures approximately 3 x 4mm with strand length of 28". Some variation in...

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$5.00 - $5.00
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$5.00 - $5.00
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Dark Faceted Russian Blue Glass Trade Beads (9mm) (Long Strand) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$75.00 - $75.00
$75.00
$75.00
$75.00 - $75.00
$75.00

Dark Faceted Russian Blue Glass Trade Beads (9mm) (Long Strand)

Out of stock

Among the most celebrated of faceted beads, Russian Blues derive their romantic name from their involvement in the Russian fur trade of the Pacific...

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$75.00 - $75.00
$75.00
$75.00
$75.00 - $75.00
$75.00
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Deep Red Recycled Glass Beads (Tabular) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50

Deep Red Recycled Glass Beads (Tabular)

Out of stock

The art of making recycled glass beads is a legacy that been sustained by the Krobo people for many years. The artisan who makes these African bead...

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$16.50 - $16.50
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Eye Design Brass Filigree Elbow Beads (35x12mm) - The Bead Chest
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$24.50 - $24.50
$24.50
$24.50
$24.50 - $24.50
$24.50

Eye Design Brass Filigree Elbow Beads (35x12mm)

Out of stock

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

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$24.50 - $24.50
$24.50
$24.50
$24.50 - $24.50
$24.50
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Super Jumbo Blackened Brown Recycled Glass Beads (34mm) - The Bead Chest
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$65.00
$65.00 - $65.00
$65.00
$55.00
$55.00 - $55.00
$55.00

Super Jumbo Blackened Brown Recycled Glass Beads (34mm)

Out of stock

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

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$65.00
$65.00 - $65.00
$65.00
$55.00
$55.00 - $55.00
$55.00
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Red Mosaic Fused Rondelle Glass Beads (13mm) - The Bead Chest
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$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00

Red Mosaic Fused Rondelle Glass Beads (13mm)

Out of stock

This uniquely patterned strand of rondelle beads is made using traditional methods used to create powder glass beads. The procedure for making the ...

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$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
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Small Sea Green Sandcast Cylinder Beads (4x5mm) - The Bead Chest
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$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

Small Sea Green Sandcast Cylinder Beads (4x5mm)

Out of stock

Checkout this beautiful strand of extra small African sandcast in a sea green pastel color. The process of making these beads is unique to Africa a...

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$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
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Blue-Green Argyle-Pattern Krobo Powder Glass Beads - The Bead Chest
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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Blue-Green Argyle-Pattern Krobo Powder Glass Beads

Out of stock

A beautiful strand of powder glass African beads, made by the people of Krobo Mountain (Ghana, West Africa ). These beads are oftentimes made by re...

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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
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Pendant Size Brass Filigree Globe Beads (34mm) - The Bead Chest
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$175.00 - $175.00
$175.00
$175.00
$175.00 - $175.00
$175.00

Pendant Size Brass Filigree Globe Beads (34mm)

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 32" lo...

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$175.00 - $175.00
$175.00
$175.00
$175.00 - $175.00
$175.00
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Aqua Recycled Glass Beads (25mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00
$45.00
$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00

Aqua Recycled Glass Beads (25mm)

Out of stock

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
$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00
Sold out
Rust Red Recycled Glass Beads (Tabular) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50

Rust Red Recycled Glass Beads (Tabular)

Out of stock

Take a look at these beautiful recycled glass beads. Powder glass beads are made by crushing glass to a fine powder and heating it so that the part...

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$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
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Vintage Black Vinyl Phono Record Beads (17-20mm) - The Bead Chest
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$49.00 - $49.00
$49.00
$49.00
$49.00 - $49.00
$49.00

Vintage Black Vinyl Phono Record Beads (17-20mm)

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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$49.00 - $49.00
$49.00
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$49.00 - $49.00
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$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00
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$16.00

Black Strawstack Sandcast Beads

Out of stock

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

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$16.00 - $16.00
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$16.00
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Corn Yellow Recycled Glass Beads (11mm) - The Bead Chest
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$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00

Corn Yellow Recycled Glass Beads (11mm)

Out of stock

Recycled glass beads are a type of indigenously produced African bead from Ghana West Africa. These beautiful yellow color recycled beads are made ...

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$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
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Vintage Turquoise Teal Glass Beads (8mm) - The Bead Chest
$59.00 - $59.00
$59.00
$59.00
$59.00 - $59.00
$59.00

Vintage Ibo Turquoise Teal Glass Beads (8mm)

in stock

This beautiful strand of African glass beads comes in a rare turquoise-teal color. Different from modern-day Ghanaian glass beads, these special be...

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$59.00 - $59.00
$59.00
$59.00
$59.00 - $59.00
$59.00
Yellow Vintage Vinyl Phono Record Beads (15-20mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00
$45.00
$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00

Yellow Vintage Vinyl Phono Record Beads (15-20mm)

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
Jumbo Painted Krobo Glass Beads (Green French Cross) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$34.50
$34.50 - $34.50
$34.50
$29.00
$29.00 - $29.00
$29.00

Jumbo Painted Krobo Glass Beads (Green French Cross)

Out of stock

Admire these unique and unusually large painted glass beads made by artisans from the Krobo tribe in Ghana. These beads resemble old fancy trade be...

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$34.50
$34.50 - $34.50
$34.50
$29.00
$29.00 - $29.00
$29.00
Sold out
Red Chevron Style Aja Krobo Powder Glass Beads (15mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50

Red Chevron Style Aja Krobo Powder Glass Beads (15mm)

Out of stock

A beautiful strand of powder glass African beads, made by the people of Krobo Mountain (Ghana, West Africa), reproducing old Venetian FANCY trade b...

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$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
Sold out
Brass Filigree Beads Oblong, Basket Design (Small) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$22.00 - $22.00
$22.00
$22.00
$22.00 - $22.00
$22.00

Brass Filigree Beads Oblong, Basket Design (Small)

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 30" l...

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$22.00 - $22.00
$22.00
$22.00
$22.00 - $22.00
$22.00
Sold out
Super Jumbo Deep Aqua Recycled Glass Beads (34mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$65.00 - $65.00
$65.00
$65.00
$65.00 - $65.00
$65.00

Super Jumbo Deep Aqua Recycled Glass Beads (34mm)

Out of stock

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

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$65.00 - $65.00
$65.00
$65.00
$65.00 - $65.00
$65.00
Sold out
Jumbo Light Green Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (25mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$35.00 - $35.00
$35.00
$35.00
$35.00 - $35.00
$35.00

Jumbo Light Green Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (25mm)

Out of stock

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

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$35.00 - $35.00
$35.00
$35.00
$35.00 - $35.00
$35.00
Sold out
Triangle Sun Ghana Brass Filigree Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$22.00
$22.00 - $22.00
$22.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00

Triangle Sun 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 stran...

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$22.00
$22.00 - $22.00
$22.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
Sold out
Blue & White Ghana Chevron Beads (Small) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$9.80 - $9.80
$9.80
$9.80
$9.80 - $9.80
$9.80

Blue & White Ghana Chevron Beads (Small)

Out of stock

Checkout this nice strand of Glass Chevrons from Ghana, Africa. The strand measures 26" in length, with beads measuring approximately 4-6 mm in dia...

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$9.80 - $9.80
$9.80
$9.80
$9.80 - $9.80
$9.80
Sold out