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Prosser Beads

  • Vintage Binta Banji Kakamba Beads - The Bead Chest
    Sold out
    $75.00 - $75.00
    $75.00
    $75.00
    $75.00 - $75.00
    $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...

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    $75.00 - $75.00
    $75.00
    $75.00
    $75.00 - $75.00
    $75.00
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  • Green Padre Prosser Button Beads (9mm) (Long Strand) - The Bead Chest
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    $35.00 - $35.00
    $35.00
    $35.00
    $35.00 - $35.00
    $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 ...

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    $35.00 - $35.00
    $35.00
    $35.00
    $35.00 - $35.00
    $35.00
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  • Blue Vintage Prosser Button Beads (7mm) - The Bead Chest
    Save 8% Save %
    $26.00
    $26.00 - $26.00
    $26.00
    $24.00
    $24.00 - $24.00
    $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...

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    $26.00
    $26.00 - $26.00
    $26.00
    $24.00
    $24.00 - $24.00
    $24.00
    Save 8% Save %
  • Black Vintage Prosser Button Beads (7mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $26.00 - $26.00
    $26.00
    $26.00
    $26.00 - $26.00
    $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...

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    $26.00 - $26.00
    $26.00
    $26.00
    $26.00 - $26.00
    $26.00
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  • Light Blue Sliced Prosser Button Beads - The Bead Chest
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    $35.00
    $35.00 - $35.00
    $35.00
    $32.00
    $32.00 - $32.00
    $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 ...

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    $35.00
    $35.00 - $35.00
    $35.00
    $32.00
    $32.00 - $32.00
    $32.00
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  • Rose Pink Sliced Prosser Button Beads (8mm)(Long Strand) - The Bead Chest
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    $49.00 - $49.00
    $49.00
    $49.00
    $49.00 - $49.00
    $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 ...

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    $49.00 - $49.00
    $49.00
    $49.00
    $49.00 - $49.00
    $49.00
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  • Sliced Yellow Prosser Beads - The Bead Chest
    $19.00 - $19.00
    $19.00
    $19.00
    $19.00 - $19.00
    $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 ...

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    $19.00 - $19.00
    $19.00
    $19.00
    $19.00 - $19.00
    $19.00
  • Ivory White Prosser Button Beads (7mm) - The Bead Chest
    $25.00 - $25.00
    $25.00
    $25.00
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    $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 ...

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    $25.00 - $25.00
    $25.00
    $25.00
    $25.00 - $25.00
    $25.00
  • Sliced Brown Prosser Beads - The Bead Chest
    $34.00 - $34.00
    $34.00
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    $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...

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    $34.00 - $34.00
    $34.00
    $34.00
    $34.00 - $34.00
    $34.00
  • Sliced Green Prosser Button Beads (8mm) - The Bead Chest
    Save 14% Save %
    $17.50
    $17.50 - $17.50
    $17.50
    $15.00
    $15.00 - $15.00
    $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...

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    $17.50
    $17.50 - $17.50
    $17.50
    $15.00
    $15.00 - $15.00
    $15.00
    Save 14% Save %
  • Vintage White Sliced Prosser Button Beads - The Bead Chest
    $22.50 - $22.50
    $22.50
    $22.50
    $22.50 - $22.50
    $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 ...

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    $22.50 - $22.50
    $22.50
    $22.50
    $22.50 - $22.50
    $22.50
  • Peach Vintage Saucer Prosser Button Beads (6mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $31.00 - $31.00
    $31.00
    $31.00
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    $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...

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    $31.00 - $31.00
    $31.00
    $31.00
    $31.00 - $31.00
    $31.00
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  • Green Prosser Button Beads (7mm) (Long Strand) - The Bead Chest
    Sold out
    $35.00 - $35.00
    $35.00
    $35.00
    $35.00 - $35.00
    $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
    $35.00 - $35.00
    $35.00
    $35.00
    $35.00 - $35.00
    $35.00
    Sold out
  • Brown Vintage Saucer Prosser Button Beads (6mm) - The Bead Chest
    Sold out
    $31.00 - $31.00
    $31.00
    $31.00
    $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
    $31.00
    $31.00
    $31.00 - $31.00
    $31.00
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  • Cobalt Blue Vintage Prosser Button Beads (9mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $39.00
    $39.00 - $39.00
    $39.00
    $25.00
    $25.00 - $25.00
    $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
    $39.00
    $39.00 - $39.00
    $39.00
    $25.00
    $25.00 - $25.00
    $25.00
    Sold out
  • Vintage Red Padre Prosser Skunk Beads (12mm) - The Bead Chest
    $49.00 - $49.00
    $49.00
    $49.00
    $49.00 - $49.00
    $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...

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    $49.00 - $49.00
    $49.00
    $49.00
    $49.00 - $49.00
    $49.00
  • Jungle Green Kakamba Prosser Beads - The Bead Chest
    Sold out
    $14.00 - $14.00
    $14.00
    $14.00
    $14.00 - $14.00
    $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...

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    $14.00 - $14.00
    $14.00
    $14.00
    $14.00 - $14.00
    $14.00
    Sold out
  • Sky Blue Kakamba Prosser Beads - The Bead Chest
    Sold out
    $14.00 - $14.00
    $14.00
    $14.00
    $14.00 - $14.00
    $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...

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    $14.00 - $14.00
    $14.00
    $14.00
    $14.00 - $14.00
    $14.00
    Sold out
  • Sliced Blue Prosser Beads (8mm) - The Bead Chest
    Sold out
    $35.00
    $35.00 - $35.00
    $35.00
    $29.00
    $29.00 - $29.00
    $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...

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    $35.00
    $35.00 - $35.00
    $35.00
    $29.00
    $29.00 - $29.00
    $29.00
    Sold out
  • Ivory Color Sliced Prosser Beads - The Bead Chest
    $32.00 - $32.00
    $32.00
    $32.00
    $32.00 - $32.00
    $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 ...

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    $32.00 - $32.00
    $32.00
    $32.00
    $32.00 - $32.00
    $32.00
  • Yellow Padre Prosser Button Beads (7mm) (Long Strand) - The Bead Chest
    Sold out
    $37.00 - $37.00
    $37.00
    $37.00
    $37.00 - $37.00
    $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 ...

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    $37.00 - $37.00
    $37.00
    $37.00
    $37.00 - $37.00
    $37.00
    Sold out
  • Vintage Yellow Prosser Button Beads (9mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $35.00 - $35.00
    $35.00
    $35.00
    $35.00 - $35.00
    $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 ...

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    $35.00 - $35.00
    $35.00
    $35.00
    $35.00 - $35.00
    $35.00
    Sold out
  • Navy Blue Sliced Prosser Beads - The Bead Chest
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    $39.00
    $39.00 - $39.00
    $39.00
    $35.00
    $35.00 - $35.00
    $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 ...

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    $39.00
    $39.00 - $39.00
    $39.00
    $35.00
    $35.00 - $35.00
    $35.00
    Sold out
  • Yellow Sliced Prosser Button Beads (8mm) (Long Strand) - The Bead Chest
    Sold out
    $33.00 - $33.00
    $33.00
    $33.00
    $33.00 - $33.00
    $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
    $33.00 - $33.00
    $33.00
    $33.00
    $33.00 - $33.00
    $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.