Skip to content

Country

Prosser Beads

  • Original price $75.00 - Original price $75.00
    Original price $75.00
    $75.00
    $75.00 - $75.00
    Current price $75.00

    Vintage Binta Banji Kakamba Beads

    Out of stock

    Unusual strand of multi color Binta Banji prosser beads. Each amazing strand of Binta Banji is unique and will show some minor variation. Each lon...

    View full details
    Original price $75.00 - Original price $75.00
    Original price $75.00
    $75.00
    $75.00 - $75.00
    Current price $75.00
    Sold out
  • Original price $35.00 - Original price $35.00
    Original price $35.00
    $35.00
    $35.00 - $35.00
    Current price $35.00

    Green Padre Prosser Button Beads (9mm) (Long Strand)

    Out of stock

    Sliced Prosser Beads, otherwise known as button beads, get their name from their unique shape. These beads originated in the former Czechoslovakia ...

    View full details
    Original price $35.00 - Original price $35.00
    Original price $35.00
    $35.00
    $35.00 - $35.00
    Current price $35.00
    Sold out
  • Original price $26.00
    Original price $26.00 - Original price $26.00
    Original price $26.00
    Current price $24.00
    $24.00 - $24.00
    Current price $24.00

    Blue Vintage Prosser Button Beads (7mm)

    Only 2 left!

    These versatile blue beads are smooth and worn to touch. Found in Nigeria, West Africa, vintage Czech beads such as these were made in Central Euro...

    View full details
    Original price $26.00
    Original price $26.00 - Original price $26.00
    Original price $26.00
    Current price $24.00
    $24.00 - $24.00
    Current price $24.00
    Save 8% Save %
  • Original price $26.00 - Original price $26.00
    Original price $26.00
    $26.00
    $26.00 - $26.00
    Current price $26.00

    Black Vintage Prosser Button Beads (7mm)

    Out of stock

    These black beads have been fashioned in the shape of small buttons. Commonly known as Prosser beads, vintage Czech beads such as these were made d...

    View full details
    Original price $26.00 - Original price $26.00
    Original price $26.00
    $26.00
    $26.00 - $26.00
    Current price $26.00
    Sold out
  • Original price $35.00
    Original price $35.00 - Original price $35.00
    Original price $35.00
    Current price $32.00
    $32.00 - $32.00
    Current price $32.00

    Light Blue Sliced Prosser Button Beads

    Out of stock

    Sliced Prosser Beads, otherwise known as button beads, get their name from their unique shape. These beads originated in the former Czechoslovakia ...

    View full details
    Original price $35.00
    Original price $35.00 - Original price $35.00
    Original price $35.00
    Current price $32.00
    $32.00 - $32.00
    Current price $32.00
    Sold out
  • Original price $49.00 - Original price $49.00
    Original price $49.00
    $49.00
    $49.00 - $49.00
    Current price $49.00

    Rose Pink Sliced Prosser Button Beads (8mm)(Long Strand)

    Out of stock

    These vintage Prosser beads are a colorful lot! Prosser beads are a type of pressed glass bead that originates in former Czechoslovakia, a country ...

    View full details
    Original price $49.00 - Original price $49.00
    Original price $49.00
    $49.00
    $49.00 - $49.00
    Current price $49.00
    Sold out
  • Original price $19.00 - Original price $19.00
    Original price $19.00
    $19.00
    $19.00 - $19.00
    Current price $19.00

    Sliced Yellow Prosser Beads

    in stock

    Up for sale is a nice strand of sliced yellow glass from Africa. These beads originated in Czech and made by pressing molten glass. They have been ...

    View full details
    Original price $19.00 - Original price $19.00
    Original price $19.00
    $19.00
    $19.00 - $19.00
    Current price $19.00
  • Original price $25.00 - Original price $25.00
    Original price $25.00
    $25.00
    $25.00 - $25.00
    Current price $25.00

    Ivory White Prosser Button Beads (7mm)

    in stock

    Sliced Prosser Beads, otherwise known as button beads, get their name from their unique shape. These beads originated in the former Czechoslovakia ...

    View full details
    Original price $25.00 - Original price $25.00
    Original price $25.00
    $25.00
    $25.00 - $25.00
    Current price $25.00
  • Original price $34.00 - Original price $34.00
    Original price $34.00
    $34.00
    $34.00 - $34.00
    Current price $34.00

    Sliced Brown Prosser Beads

    Only 8 left!

    Up for auction is a nice strand of sliced brown glass from Africa. These beads originated in Czech and made by pressing molten glass. They have b...

    View full details
    Original price $34.00 - Original price $34.00
    Original price $34.00
    $34.00
    $34.00 - $34.00
    Current price $34.00
  • Original price $17.50
    Original price $17.50 - Original price $17.50
    Original price $17.50
    Current price $15.00
    $15.00 - $15.00
    Current price $15.00

    Sliced Green Prosser Button Beads (8mm)

    in stock

    Up for sale is a nice strand of sliced green glass from Africa. These beads originated in Czech and made by pressing molten glass. They have been...

    View full details
    Original price $17.50
    Original price $17.50 - Original price $17.50
    Original price $17.50
    Current price $15.00
    $15.00 - $15.00
    Current price $15.00
    Save 14% Save %
  • Original price $22.50 - Original price $22.50
    Original price $22.50
    $22.50
    $22.50 - $22.50
    Current price $22.50

    Vintage White Sliced Prosser Button Beads

    in stock

    Sliced Prosser Beads, otherwise known as button beads, get their name from their unique shape. These beads originated in the former Czechoslovakia ...

    View full details
    Original price $22.50 - Original price $22.50
    Original price $22.50
    $22.50
    $22.50 - $22.50
    Current price $22.50
  • Original price $31.00 - Original price $31.00
    Original price $31.00
    $31.00
    $31.00 - $31.00
    Current price $31.00

    Peach 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 orange glass s...

    View full details
    Original price $31.00 - Original price $31.00
    Original price $31.00
    $31.00
    $31.00 - $31.00
    Current price $31.00
    Sold out
  • Original price $35.00 - Original price $35.00
    Original price $35.00
    $35.00
    $35.00 - $35.00
    Current price $35.00

    Green Prosser Button Beads (7mm) (Long Strand)

    Out of stock

    Sliced Prosser Beads, otherwise known as button beads, get their name from their unique shape. These beads originated in the former Czechoslovakia ...

    View full details
    Original price $35.00 - Original price $35.00
    Original price $35.00
    $35.00
    $35.00 - $35.00
    Current price $35.00
    Sold out
  • Original price $31.00 - Original price $31.00
    Original price $31.00
    $31.00
    $31.00 - $31.00
    Current price $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...

    View full details
    Original price $31.00 - Original price $31.00
    Original price $31.00
    $31.00
    $31.00 - $31.00
    Current price $31.00
    Sold out
  • Original price $39.00
    Original price $39.00 - Original price $39.00
    Original price $39.00
    Current price $25.00
    $25.00 - $25.00
    Current price $25.00

    Cobalt Blue Vintage Prosser Button Beads (9mm)

    Out of stock

    Sliced Prosser Beads, otherwise known as button beads, get their name from their unique shape. These beads originated in the former Czechoslovakia ...

    View full details
    Original price $39.00
    Original price $39.00 - Original price $39.00
    Original price $39.00
    Current price $25.00
    $25.00 - $25.00
    Current price $25.00
    Sold out
  • Original price $49.00 - Original price $49.00
    Original price $49.00
    $49.00
    $49.00 - $49.00
    Current price $49.00

    Vintage Red Padre Prosser Skunk Beads (12mm)

    in stock

    Likely intended to resemble older Venetian Skunk Eye Beads, these unusual glass beads may have been made in the glass workshops of former Czechoslo...

    View full details
    Original price $49.00 - Original price $49.00
    Original price $49.00
    $49.00
    $49.00 - $49.00
    Current price $49.00
  • Original price $14.00 - Original price $14.00
    Original price $14.00
    $14.00
    $14.00 - $14.00
    Current price $14.00

    Jungle Green Kakamba Prosser Beads

    Out of stock

    These green czech-made "Prosser" beads were strung and traded in West Africa. Modeled after vintage "kakamba" beads, these beads each have a uniqu...

    View full details
    Original price $14.00 - Original price $14.00
    Original price $14.00
    $14.00
    $14.00 - $14.00
    Current price $14.00
    Sold out
  • Original price $14.00 - Original price $14.00
    Original price $14.00
    $14.00
    $14.00 - $14.00
    Current price $14.00

    Sky Blue Kakamba Prosser Beads

    Out of stock

    These blue czech-made "Prosser" beads were strung and traded in West Africa. Modeled after vintage "kakamba" beads, these beads each have a unique...

    View full details
    Original price $14.00 - Original price $14.00
    Original price $14.00
    $14.00
    $14.00 - $14.00
    Current price $14.00
    Sold out
  • Original price $35.00
    Original price $35.00 - Original price $35.00
    Original price $35.00
    Current price $29.00
    $29.00 - $29.00
    Current price $29.00

    Sliced Blue Prosser Beads (8mm)

    Out of stock

    Up for sale is a nice strand of sliced cobalt blue glass from Africa. These beads originated in Czech and made by pressing molten glass. They hav...

    View full details
    Original price $35.00
    Original price $35.00 - Original price $35.00
    Original price $35.00
    Current price $29.00
    $29.00 - $29.00
    Current price $29.00
    Sold out
  • Original price $32.00 - Original price $32.00
    Original price $32.00
    $32.00
    $32.00 - $32.00
    Current price $32.00

    Ivory Color Sliced Prosser Beads

    Only 2 left!

    Sliced Prosser Beads, otherwise known as button beads, get their name from their unique shape. These beads originated in the former Czechoslovakia ...

    View full details
    Original price $32.00 - Original price $32.00
    Original price $32.00
    $32.00
    $32.00 - $32.00
    Current price $32.00
  • Original price $37.00 - Original price $37.00
    Original price $37.00
    $37.00
    $37.00 - $37.00
    Current price $37.00

    Yellow Padre Prosser Button Beads (7mm) (Long Strand)

    Out of stock

    Sliced Prosser Beads, otherwise known as button beads, get their name from their unique shape. These beads originated in the former Czechoslovakia ...

    View full details
    Original price $37.00 - Original price $37.00
    Original price $37.00
    $37.00
    $37.00 - $37.00
    Current price $37.00
    Sold out
  • Original price $35.00 - Original price $35.00
    Original price $35.00
    $35.00
    $35.00 - $35.00
    Current price $35.00

    Vintage Yellow Prosser Button Beads (9mm)

    Out of stock

    Sliced Prosser Beads, otherwise known as button beads, get their name from their unique shape. These beads originated in the former Czechoslovakia ...

    View full details
    Original price $35.00 - Original price $35.00
    Original price $35.00
    $35.00
    $35.00 - $35.00
    Current price $35.00
    Sold out
  • Original price $39.00
    Original price $39.00 - Original price $39.00
    Original price $39.00
    Current price $35.00
    $35.00 - $35.00
    Current price $35.00

    Navy Blue Sliced Prosser Beads

    Out of stock

    Sliced Prosser Beads, otherwise known as button beads, get their name from their unique shape. These beads originated in the former Czechoslovakia ...

    View full details
    Original price $39.00
    Original price $39.00 - Original price $39.00
    Original price $39.00
    Current price $35.00
    $35.00 - $35.00
    Current price $35.00
    Sold out
  • Original price $33.00 - Original price $33.00
    Original price $33.00
    $33.00
    $33.00 - $33.00
    Current price $33.00

    Yellow Sliced Prosser Button Beads (8mm) (Long Strand)

    Out of stock

    Sliced Prosser Beads, otherwise known as button beads, get their name from their unique shape. These beads originated in the former Czechoslovakia ...

    View full details
    Original price $33.00 - Original price $33.00
    Original price $33.00
    $33.00
    $33.00 - $33.00
    Current price $33.00
    Sold out

Prosser Molded Beads, a type of Trade beads are named after the brothers Richard and Thomas Prosser who invented a machine to mold clay in England in 1840. The machinery applies pressure to clay in a die that can subsequently be removed and fired to create a porcelain-like material. Articles made using the Prosser technique may be identified based on a thin but subtle seam along the equator of one edge. The beauty of this system is that it can produce beads in a uniform and exact pattern. Originally applied for making buttons, the system was later adapted to make beads.

The first Prosser Beads were made in France by Jean-Felix Bapterosses between 1860-1864. Later, the Prosser method was used to make beads also of Bohemian, Czech, German, and Italian origin. Prosser Beads were exported in large quantities primarily to South America, the Middle East, and Africa where they were used extensively for trade. The production of Prosser Beads went into decline in the 1950s and 1960s due to a combination of factors including the prominence of less expensive Czech beads, the adoption of cheaper materials in the bead making industry, and the independence of African countries. The production of Prosser Beads has been resurrected to some extent in present day Morocco.

One of the most well known types of Prosser Beads is the Kakamba Bead. Kankanmba Beads are typically opaque multi-colored trade beads that today are sourced primarily from West Africa. The Kancamba can be found in most colors of the rainbow both as solid colored beads but also with a freckled or mottled patterning of combinations of colors. Several shapes of the bead are also available including small thin cylinders and larger more flat varieties. Other types of Prosser Beads include Sliced Blue, Sliced Green, and Sliced Yellow Prosser Beads.