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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 Black Mixed Venetian Trade Beads #12439 - The Bead Chest Sold out
$329.00 - $329.00
$329.00
$329.00
$329.00 - $329.00
$329.00

Antique Black Mixed Venetian Trade Beads #12439

Out of stock

Admire these authentic antique Venetian trade beads. These Trade beads were likely crafted during the 19th century by specialized artisans whose te...

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$329.00 - $329.00
$329.00
$329.00
$329.00 - $329.00
$329.00
Sold out
Antique Black Fancy Circular Venetian Trade Beads - The Bead Chest Save 4% Save %
$675.00
$675.00 - $675.00
$675.00
$649.00
$649.00 - $649.00
$649.00

Antique Black Fancy Circular Venetian Trade Beads

Only 1 left!

Admire these authentic antique Venetian trade beads. These Trade beads were likely crafted during the 19th century by specialized artisans whose te...

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$675.00
$675.00 - $675.00
$675.00
$649.00
$649.00 - $649.00
$649.00
Save 4% Save %
Basket Design Ghana Brass Filigree Oval Beads (22x16mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50

Basket Design Ghana Brass Filigree Oval Beads (22x16mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at these basket design 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
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Purple Sandcast Seed Beads (3mm) - The Bead Chest
$6.50 - $6.50
$6.50
$6.50
$6.50 - $6.50
$6.50

Purple Sandcast Seed Beads (3mm)

in stock

Checkout this beautiful strand of purple sandcast beads from Ghana, West Africa. Beads such as these are often worn as traditional waist beads. The...

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$6.50 - $6.50
$6.50
$6.50
$6.50 - $6.50
$6.50
Dark Green Sandcast Seed Beads (3mm) - The Bead Chest
$6.50 - $6.50
$6.50
$6.50
$6.50 - $6.50
$6.50

Dark Green Sandcast Seed Beads (3mm)

in stock

Checkout this beautiful strand of green sandcast beads from Ghana, West Africa. Beads such as these are often worn as traditional waist beads. The ...

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$6.50 - $6.50
$6.50
$6.50
$6.50 - $6.50
$6.50
Blue & Yellow Tabular Fused Recycled Glass Beads - The Bead Chest
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$26.50 - $26.50
$26.50
$26.50
$26.50 - $26.50
$26.50

Blue & Yellow Tabular Fused Recycled Glass Beads

Out of stock

This uniquely patterned strand of tabular hexagonal beads is made using traditional methods used to create powder glass beads. The procedure for ma...

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$26.50 - $26.50
$26.50
$26.50
$26.50 - $26.50
$26.50
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Pastel Blue Ashanti Glass Saucer Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
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$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50

Pastel Blue Ashanti Glass Saucer Beads (14mm)

Out of stock

Checkout this beautiful strand of Ashanti glass saucer beads. The process of making these beads is unique to Africa and has been used for over 1000...

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$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
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Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #11531 - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
$149.00
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00

Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #11531

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 ha...

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$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
$149.00
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
Sold out
Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #11526 - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
$149.00
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00

Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #11526

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 ha...

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$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
$149.00
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
Sold out
Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #11522 - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
$149.00
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00

Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #11522

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 ha...

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$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
$149.00
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
Sold out
Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #11521 - The Bead Chest
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
$149.00
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00

Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #11521

Only 1 left!

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

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$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
$149.00
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #11519 - The Bead Chest
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
$149.00
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00

Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #11519

Only 1 left!

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

View full details
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
$149.00
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #11518 - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
$149.00
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00

Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #11518

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 ha...

View full details
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
$149.00
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
Sold out
Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #11515 - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
$149.00
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00

Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #11515

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 ha...

View full details
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
$149.00
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
Sold out
Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #11517 - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
$149.00
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00

Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #11517

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 ha...

View full details
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
$149.00
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
Sold out
$35.00 - $35.00
$35.00
$35.00
$35.00 - $35.00
$35.00

Jumbo Bright Red Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (25mm)

in stock

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

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$35.00 - $35.00
$35.00
$35.00
$35.00 - $35.00
$35.00
Mixed Antique Venetian Trade Beads #12529 - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00
$79.00
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00

Mixed Antique Venetian Trade Beads #12529

Out of stock

Looking for a truly unique strand of antique mixed trade beads? Then look no further. This beautiful strand of old african trade beads contains a m...

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$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00
$79.00
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00
Sold out
Mixed Antique Venetian Trade Beads #12528 - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00
$79.00
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00

Mixed Antique Venetian Trade Beads #12528

Out of stock

Looking for a truly unique strand of antique mixed trade beads? Then look no further. This beautiful strand of old african trade beads contains a m...

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$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00
$79.00
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00
Sold out
Mixed Antique Venetian Trade Beads #12527 - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00
$79.00
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00

Mixed Antique Venetian Trade Beads #12527

Out of stock

Looking for a truly unique strand of antique mixed trade beads? Then look no further. This beautiful strand of old african trade beads contains a m...

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$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00
$79.00
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00
Sold out
Mixed Antique Venetian Trade Beads #12524 - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00
$79.00
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00

Mixed Antique Venetian Trade Beads #12524

Out of stock

Looking for a truly unique strand of antique mixed trade beads? Then look no further. This beautiful strand of old african trade beads contains a m...

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$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00
$79.00
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00
Sold out
Mixed Antique Venetian Trade Beads #12522 - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00
$79.00
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00

Mixed Antique Venetian Trade Beads #12522

Out of stock

Looking for a truly unique strand of antique mixed trade beads? Then look no further. This beautiful strand of old african trade beads contains a m...

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$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00
$79.00
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00
Sold out
Mixed Antique Venetian Trade Beads #12521 - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00
$79.00
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00

Mixed Antique Venetian Trade Beads #12521

Out of stock

Looking for a truly unique strand of antique mixed trade beads? Then look no further. This beautiful strand of old african trade beads contains a m...

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$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00
$79.00
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00
Sold out
Mixed Antique Venetian Trade Beads #12523 - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00
$79.00
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00

Mixed Antique Venetian Trade Beads #12523

Out of stock

Looking for a truly unique strand of antique mixed trade beads? Then look no further. This beautiful strand of old african trade beads contains a m...

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$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00
$79.00
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00
Sold out
Mixed Antique Venetian Trade Beads #12519 - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00
$79.00
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00

Mixed Antique Venetian Trade Beads #12519

Out of stock

Looking for a truly unique strand of antique mixed trade beads? Then look no further. This beautiful strand of old african trade beads contains a m...

View full details
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00
$79.00
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00
Sold out