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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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Aja Style Sliced Blue Krobo Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
$15.00
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00

Aja Style Sliced Blue Krobo Beads (14mm)

Out of stock

A beautiful strand of powder glass African beads, made by the people of Krobo Mountain (Ghana, West Africa). This strand was designed to resemble o...

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$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
$15.00
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
Sold out
Aja Krobo Powder Glass Beads - The Bead Chest Sold out
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00

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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$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
Sold out
Dark Brown Swirl Rectangular Recycled Glass Beads 16mm - The Bead Chest Sold out
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Dark Brown Swirl Rectangular Recycled Glass Beads 16mm

Out of stock

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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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
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Mixed Recycled Glass Beads (34mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$55.00 - $55.00
$55.00
$55.00
$55.00 - $55.00
$55.00

Mixed Recycled Glass Beads (34mm)

Out of stock

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

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$55.00 - $55.00
$55.00
$55.00
$55.00 - $55.00
$55.00
Sold out
Dark Faceted Russian Blue Glass Trade Beads (7-9mm) - The Bead Chest
Save 17% Save %
$295.00
$295.00 - $295.00
$295.00
$245.00
$245.00 - $245.00
$245.00

Dark Faceted Russian Blue Glass Trade Beads (7-9mm)

in 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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$295.00
$295.00 - $295.00
$295.00
$245.00
$245.00 - $245.00
$245.00
Save 17% Save %
Red White and Blue Antique Matching Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$325.00 - $325.00
$325.00
$325.00
$325.00 - $325.00
$325.00

Red White and Blue 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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$325.00 - $325.00
$325.00
$325.00
$325.00 - $325.00
$325.00
Sold out
Multicolor Christmas Beads (Large) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$6.95 - $6.95
$6.95
$6.95
$6.95 - $6.95
$6.95

Multicolor Christmas Beads (Large)

Out of stock

Christmas beads comprise of a special blend of choice beads created in former Czechoslovakia for use in Africa. Also known as "African love beads,"...

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$6.95 - $6.95
$6.95
$6.95
$6.95 - $6.95
$6.95
Sold out
Criss Cross Brass Filigree Globe Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00

Criss Cross Brass Filigree Globe Beads (14mm)

Out of stock

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

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$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
Sold out
Rustic Yellow Venetian Watermelon Chevron Beads (14x6mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$23.00
$23.00 - $23.00
$23.00
$19.00
$19.00 - $19.00
$19.00

Rustic Yellow Venetian Watermelon Chevron Beads (14x6mm)

Out of stock

We can't get enough of these rustic Yellow Venetian Watermelon Chevron Beads. Vintage Venetian Beads like this truly have a unique story to tell an...

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$23.00
$23.00 - $23.00
$23.00
$19.00
$19.00 - $19.00
$19.00
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Rose Pink Vinyl Phono Record Beads (8mm) - The Bead Chest
Save 60% Save %
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$4.80
$4.80 - $4.80
$4.80

Rose Pink Vinyl Phono Record Beads (8mm)

Only 6 left!

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

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$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$4.80
$4.80 - $4.80
$4.80
Save 60% Save %
Red White Heart Beads (8mm) - The Bead Chest
$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00
$16.00
$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00

Red White Heart Beads (8mm)

Only 5 left!

Checkout this beautiful strand of hard-to-find deep red white hearts! These beads are our highest quality white heart beads. The strand measures ap...

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$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00
$16.00
$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00
Cobalt Blue Padre Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Cobalt Blue Padre Beads

Out of stock

Take a look at these beautiful cobalt blue padre beads. Made from Czech glass, padre beads such as these have been traded in African since as early...

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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
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Caged Cylinder Ghana Brass Filigree Beads (30x10mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00

Caged Cylinder Ghana Brass Filigree Beads (30x10mm)

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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$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
Sold out
Clear Marine Recycled Glass Beads (9mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00

Clear Marine Recycled Glass Beads (9mm)

Out of stock

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

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$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
Sold out
Yellow Recycled Glass Beads (Tabular) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$15.00
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00

Yellow 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
$15.00
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
Sold out
Circular Sun Brass Filigree Beads (10x22mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50

Circular Sun Brass Filigree Beads (10x22mm)

Out of stock

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

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$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
Sold out
Circular Eye Brass Filigree Beads (10x21mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$22.00 - $22.00
$22.00
$22.00
$22.00 - $22.00
$22.00

Circular Eye Brass Filigree Beads (10x21mm)

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
Christmas Fused Recycled Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00

Christmas Fused Recycled Glass Beads (14mm)

Out of stock

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

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$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
Sold out
Yellow Flower Antique Matching Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$165.00 - $165.00
$165.00
$165.00
$165.00 - $165.00
$165.00

Yellow 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...

View full details
$165.00 - $165.00
$165.00
$165.00
$165.00 - $165.00
$165.00
Sold out
Chevron Style Aja Krobo Powder Glass Beads (15mm) - The Bead Chest
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50

Chevron Style Aja Krobo Powder Glass Beads (15mm)

in 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
Blue French Cross Krobo Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50

Blue French Cross Krobo Beads

Out of stock

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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$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
Sold out
Wound Round Mini Ghana Brass Beads (9mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$23.50 - $23.50
$23.50
$23.50
$23.50 - $23.50
$23.50

Wound Round Mini Ghana Brass Beads (9mm)

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 is ...

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$23.50 - $23.50
$23.50
$23.50
$23.50 - $23.50
$23.50
Sold out
Wound Hourglass Brass Filigree Beads (27x15mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50

Wound Hourglass Brass Filigree Beads (27x15mm)

Out of stock

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

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$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
Sold out
Wound Flattened Bicone Ghana Brass Beads (23x14mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50

Wound Flattened Bicone Ghana Brass Beads (23x14mm)

Out of stock

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

View full details
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
Sold out